MLB Rumors: Munetaka Murakami and the Chicago White Sox have agreed to terms on a two year, $34 million contract, per multiple reports.
Murakami, who turns 26 in February, is a lefthanded hitting third
baseman with big time power, but who also has had major contact issues during his time in the NPB. In 69 games in 2025, he slashed .286/.392/.659 with 24 home runs, but also struck out 71 times in 263 plate appearances. His best season was in 2022, when he slashed .318/.458/.710 with 56 homers and 118 walks against 128 Ks in 612 plate appearances.
This is a much smaller deal than I think many were anticipating — Ben Clemens at Fangraphs, for example, projected 7 years, $154 million for Murakami. Kiley McDaniel, meanwhile, had him at 5 years, $80 million.
Murakami’s failure to come close to those numbers would seem to be indicative of teams’ concerns about Murakami’s ability to handle the type of velocity he will regularly see in the majors, and whether he’ll make enough contact for his power to play. By taking a short term deal, Murakami is betting on himself, such that if he performs at a high level, he’ll be able to cash in big when he re-enters the free agent market after his age 27 season.
