🔗 Share this article

In a significant move for their rebuilding roster, the Chicago White Sox have officially added slugger Munetaka Murakami, agreeing to a lucrative contract bringing in the power-hitting player.

Deal Structure and Player Perks

The agreement includes a substantial signing bonus, payable within 30 days, alongside salaries of $16M for the 2026 season and $17M for the 2027 year.

Notably, Murakami's 2027 salary is subject to escalators based on accolade achievements in 2026:

• A seven-figure bonus for winning the MVP award.
• Half a million dollars for placing in the top three in MVP voting.
• $250,000 for ranking in the top ten.
• $250,000 for being named the ROY honor.

His deal includes that he cannot be sent to the farm system without his approval and allows him to become a unrestricted player at the end of the term. Further benefits include a dedicated interpreter and travel costs between the U.S. and Japan.

Transfer Payment and Team Legacy

As part of the acquisition, Chicago owes a transfer fee of $6,575,000 to the Swallows, Murakami's former team in Japan's Central League. The Swallows would also receive a 15% cut of fifteen percent triggered incentive payments.

Murakami is set to become the fourth Japanese-born to represent the South Siders, following reliever Shingo Takatsu (2004-05), infielder Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07), and fielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012). Interestingly, Takatsu was a manager for Murakami back in Japan.

Career Highlights

Murakami, a left-handed hitter who will turn 26 soon, joins a emerging group of offensive players in Chicago that contains prospects like Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, and Chase Meidroth. The White Sox are finished with a last-place season, finishing at the bottom in the American League Central but representing a notable improvement from the prior campaign.

A two-time Most Valuable Player honors in consecutive seasons, Murakami is renowned for a monumental 2022 season where he launched 56 home runs, surpassing the all-time record for a NPB hitter formerly held by legend Sadaharu Oh. That year also made him the most youthful hitter ever to secure Japan's elusive Triple Crown.

His last year was shortened to just 56 appearances due to an side strain. Even with recording 64 times, he still managed .273 with 22 HRs and 47 RBIs.

Over his career tenure with the Yakult club, Murakami has compiled a .270 lifetime batting average with 246 HRs, 647 RBIs, and nearly 1,000 strikeouts in nearly 900 games. He started playing primarily at first base, he has more recently played to third.

WBC Heroics

Murakami's big-game performance were on center stage during the 2023 World Baseball Classic. In the semifinal against Mexico, he hit a game-ending double that scored two fellow Japanese stars for a dramatic one-run win. The very next day in the championship game against the Team USA, he hit a game-tying home run in the second inning, paving the way for Japan's eventual 3-2 victory.

The new White Sox addition is slated to be formally introduced at a introductory event on Monday.