[Passan] BREAKING: Japanese star third baseman Munetaka Murakami will be posted today, officially starting the process of one of the most anticipated free agencies of the winter, sources tell ESPN. Murakami’s 45-day negotiating window to come to a deal with an MLB team starts tomorrow.

31 comments

  2. I don’t think the Yankees will really be in on him but there is of course a ton of chatter around him and people here want him.

    We will know by Christmas at least!

  6. We’re all going to be angry when the Yankees pass and this guy hits 40 HRs next season.

  8. We will offer 10% less than the highest bidder, lose, and Hal will say “we felt really good about our offer”

  9. I was listening to Effectively Wild and their scout, Eric Longenhagen from Fangraphs, said Murakami’s offensive upside is someone like Adam Dunn. His downside was Russell Brandan/Mark Reynolds type guy. He also said he’s not terrible at third. 

    It would be fun if the Yankees got him but I don’t see a spot to play him. I feel like Rice has to play everyday. Maybe he can play five days a week four at first, one catching? Then Murakami plays first one day a week and third the rest with some DH sprinkled in?

    It’s a tough fit. 

  15. I actually question if people spew the dOdgErs aGaiN are just memeing at this point or if they are actually clueless and think because he’s Japanese he’s going to be a Dodger

    Just for clarification: Murakami is not a MLB level 3B (or at least projected so). He’s going to be a 1B/DH

    The Dodgers have:

    – Freeman at 1st

    – Ohtani at DH

    – Muncy at 3rd (who they just picked up his option)

    There is no room for Murakami. And they’re not going to get into a bidding war for a bench piece when they have holes in the outfield to fill (cough cough Tucker). And vice versa, no 25 year old Japanese superstar is going to stagnate his career by willingly signing up to be a bench option even if it’s to play with Ohtani

    You can argue that he’s not a fit for us either. But unfortunately I can see Cashman panicking if we don’t make any “splashy” signings and make a huge run at Murakami

  20. Didn’t the Dodgers just pick up Muncy’s option? He wouldn’t make much sense for them unless they have them split time.

  21. Eventually there will be a Japanese player that wants to start their own thing and challenge Ohtani? Right?

  24. Move McMahon to shortstop, trade Volpe to the Mets for international cash, sign this guy? Alright, I’ll hang up and listen.

  26. He strikes out a ton in NPB with velocity that’s nowhere near MLB level. He’s gonna come here and sell out for power and whatever team has him will soon enough be trying to get rid of him like the Sox with Yoshida and even the Cubs with Suzuki who is defensively challenged and prone to slumps.

    There’s a ton of fanfare on him stemming from his power packed season and MLB The Show giving him a 99 overall card but he’s not been that guy in several seasons and at 25 he’s already getting to his peak. Nothing more he can do with an elongated swing.

  27. Only a NY team will be able to stop the Dodgers dominance and I hope its US. Maximize Judge’s prime by signing anyone and everyone that can contribute to a championship otherwise blow this shit up and start over now.

  28. Dodgers jokes aside wouldn’t surprise me if Boston makes a huge push for him (which would suck even more).

  30. Murakami is like if Spencer Jones were older, slower, played worse defense at a less important position, and costed a ton.

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