Chicago's MLB Team Land Japanese Slugger Munetaka Murakami on a Major $34 Million Contract.
In a major move for their rebuilding roster, the South Side team have welcomed slugger Munetaka Murakami, completing a $34 million contract for the power-hitting player.
Financial Terms and Incentives
The agreement includes a $1 million signing bonus, issued within 30 days, in addition to compensation of $16M for the 2026 season and $17 million for the final year.
Importantly, Murakami's compensation can increase based on performance achievements in 2026:
- An additional $1M for winning the Most Valuable Player award.
- $500,000 for finishing as runner-up or in third place in MVP voting.
- $250K for ranking in the top ten.
- $250,000 for winning the top rookie honor.
The contract also stipulates that he cannot be sent to the farm system without his permission and grants him a unrestricted player at the termination of the term. Additional perks include a dedicated interpreter and travel costs between the U.S. and Japan.
Posting Fee and Team Legacy
As part of the signing, Chicago is obligated to provide a transfer fee of roughly $6.58 million to the Yakult Swallows, Murakami's previous team in Japan's professional league. The Swallows are also entitled to a 15% cut of fifteen percent triggered incentive payments.
Murakami joins the ranks as the fourth-ever Japanese-born to play for the South Siders, following reliever Shingo Takatsu (2004-05), infielder Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07), and outfielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012). Interestingly, Takatsu previously coached Murakami back in Japan.
Player Profile
Murakami, a lefty bat who will turn 26 on February 2nd, joins a young lineup in Chicago that also features prospects like Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, and Chase Meidroth. The White Sox are finished with a 60-102 season, placing at the bottom in the division but showing a significant improvement from the previous campaign.
A two-time league MVP honors in '21 and '22, Murakami made history with a monumental 2022 season where he hit 56 HRs, breaking the all-time record for a player in Japan formerly held by legend Sadaharu Oh. That feat also made him the most youthful hitter ever to achieve Japan's coveted Triple Crown.
His last year was limited to a partial schedule due to an muscle issue. Even with recording 64 Ks, he hit .273 with 22 home runs and 47 RBIs.
Over his eight-year tenure with the Yakult club, Murakami has accumulated a .270 career batting average with 246 homers, 647 RBIs, and 977 strikeouts in nearly 900 games. Initially playing mostly at first, he has spent most of his time to the hot corner.
Global Stage Success
Murakami's clutch hitting were on global view during the 2023 WBC. In the semi-final against Mexico, he hit a victory-sealing double that brought home teammates for a come-from-behind one-run win. The following day in the final against the United States, he hit a game-tying home run in the second inning, setting the stage for Japan's subsequent title triumph.
The lefty slugger is scheduled to be officially presented at a media availability on the coming Monday.
