The Los Angeles Dodgers opened up game 1 of the National League Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers in what turned out to be a close and exciting game. The Dodgers barely scraped by to win the game 2-1 and take game one of the series.

The Dodgers are one of the few teams always looking to improve each offseason, and it can never be too early for speculation on ways to improve next year, especially when it comes to the international market.

Japan has been a hotbed of MLB talent that comes in and succeeds immediately. From Shohei Ohtani to Shoto Imanga and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the off-season becomes an exciting competition of who can land the next Japanese-born star.

This off-season’s race will be for slugging corner infielder Munetaka Murakami, and like the previous two seasons, the Dodgers will have the edge and ultimately sign Murakami to their roster for 2026.

*THIS IS A PREDICTION, NOT A REPORT*

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Los Angeles Dodgers Will Sign Munetaka Murakami

While he’s one of the hottest free agents on the market, many don’t know what their team would be getting in Murakami.

Who is Munetaka Murakami?

Murakami is a 25-year-old, six-year veteran in the Nippon Professional Baseball League. The highest league in Japan. His nickname “Murakami-sama” was given to him by the fans because what he could do at the plate could be done by a kami-sama. Which is a “god-like deity” in Japanese culture.

Primarily a third baseman who accounts for about 75 percent of the game, his secondary position is at first base. He is 6’2″, 213 pounds, and has hit 246 home runs in 892 games.

He set the NPB single-season home run record with 56 in 2022 at the age of 22. He also won the triple crown that year, becoming the youngest player ever to accomplish that feat.

Murakami does have a red flag, which is his strikeout rate. This past season, his strikeout rate was at 29.5 percent. With the level of pitching in the Major Leagues, this could be a huge area of concern, translating to the game quicker.

Murakami has already gathered interest from the Dodgers, Phillies, Red Sox, Giants, Mariners, and the Mets. Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearn went to Japan in August to see Murakami. Murakami went on to hit a walk-off homer with Stearn watching. 

How Can the Dodgers Afford Murakami?

The Dodgers have been the biggest spenders in all of baseball and have been betting on the present rather than the future. To maximize profit before the bills need to be paid, the Dodgers have the most deferred contracts in the league. With seven players, including Shohei Ohtani,  getting guaranteed money for years after their contract ends.

The Dodgers would most likely opt out of Max Muncy’s contract in 2026 and retain the ten million there to help out, and set up Murakami on a long-term deal that resembles what the Dodgers gave Yoshinobu Yamamoto or Roki Sasaki.

Muncy will be 36 and is in his last year of his deal, and could be the move to make the Dodgers younger for the future, as many of their stars are starting to age or retire.

The fact of the matter is that the Dodgers will make it work no matter what. The Dodgers are already a team that has been friendly with the Japanese fanbase, and on the West Coast, it makes viewership for Japan much easier. The Dodgers’ top competition would likely be the Mariners and the Giants. The Giants may be able to match the spending of the Dodgers better than the Mariners.

A sneaky team that could land the Japanese superstar would be the Mets. Pete Alonso will more than likely be signing somewhere else, and the Mets would need a new first baseman with some pop.

Murakami’s contract is projected to be a long-term deal, 8-12 years for $200-300 million. With the strikeout rate he currently has, expect the deal to be closer to the 8-year, $200 million option.

While the Dodgers are competing for a new championship, they are no doubt already working on the offseason and will end up signing Munetaka Murakami.