The Los Angeles Dodgers’ offseason free-agent class gained a compelling international wrinkle when the Yakult Swallows posted Munetaka Murakami, the 26-year-old slugger who has towered over Nippon Professional Baseball for nearly a decade. His résumé is staggering: an NPB Triple Crown at age 22, 56 home runs in 2022 to break Sadaharu Oh’s long-standing record for Japanese-born players, and a career slash line of .270/.394/.557 with 246 home runs. Even in an injury-shortened 2025 season, he managed a .273/.379/.663 line with 22 home runs and an OPS above 1.000 in just 56 games.
For many clubs, that combination of age, production, and left-handed power is irresistible. But one high-profile contender appears to have stepped away.
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The Dodgers were initially viewed as a natural landing spot. Murakami had been photographed wearing a Dodgers hat this winter, and the franchise’s successful track record with Japanese stars—Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki—fueled speculation. Yet insiders insist the Dodgers are not involved.
“Have not heard any buzz about the Dodgers and Murakami,” reporter David Vassegh said. “The one thing that I’ve heard is that he doesn’t hit velocity. So, similar to what the Dodgers did with Kim when they had to rework his swing to be able to compete against high velocity in Major League Baseball.”
That concern aligns with league-wide scouting notes. Murakami’s strikeout rate has climbed from 20.9% in 2022 to nearly 29% last season, and his issues with high-end velocity—especially in international play—remain a key hesitation point.
Philadelphia Emerges as a Logical Fit
While the Dodgers fade from the picture, the Philadelphia Phillies appear increasingly motivated. With Alec Bohm rumored as a trade candidate and Kyle Schwarber entering free-agency negotiations, the team has evaluated multiple offensive pathways. CBS Sports’ Mike Axisa framed the logic succinctly: “Trading Alec Bohm and putting Murakami at third base is the easy move. Philadelphia’s World Series window is as open as it’s going to get… Murakami hits ’em.”
Murakami’s game fits the Phillies’ power-first identity, and MLB analyst Jim Bowden has gone even further: “Think of the power of Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso. That’s the kind of power, and maybe even more.”
A Market Heavy on Interest, Light on Certainty
The Yankees, Giants, Mariners, Mets, Red Sox, and Phillies are all expected to remain active during Murakami’s 45-day negotiating window, which closes December 22. If no deal materializes, he returns to Yakult for another season.
Questions remain about his defensive home and his ability to handle elite velocity, but Murakami’s offensive ceiling ensures his name will dominate headlines until the final hour.
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