Japan’s Munetaka Murakami rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the second inning of a World Baseball Classic game against the U.S., March 21, 2023, in Miami.Marta Lavandier/The Associated Press
The rebuilding Chicago White Sox added Munetaka Murakami to their lineup on Sunday, agreeing to a US$34-million, two-year contract with the Japanese slugger.
Murakami, who turns 26 on Feb. 2, joins a promising group of young hitters that also includes Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel and Chase Meidroth. The White Sox finished last in the AL Central this year with a 60-102 record, a 19-game improvement from the previous season.
Murakami gets a US$1-million signing bonus payable within 30 days and salaries of US$16-million next year and US$17-million in 2027.
His 2027 salary can escalate based on awards earned in 2026: US$1-million for winning an MVP award, US$500,000 for finishing second or third in the voting, US$250,000 for fourth through 10th and US$250,000 for Rookie of the Year.
He can’t be assigned to the minor leagues without his consent and will be a free agent at the end of the contract. He also gets a team-provided interpreter and flight reimbursement between Japan and the U.S.
Chicago owes a posting fee of US$6,575,000 to Yakult, Murakami’s Central League team. The Swallows also would receive a supplemental fee of 15 per cent of any triggered escalators. Murakami was Central League MVP in 2021 and ’22. The corner infielder was limited to 56 games this season because of an oblique injury. He struck out 64 times, but he batted .273 with 22 homers and 47 RBIs.
Murakami hit 56 homers in 2022 to break Sadaharu Oh’s record for a Japanese-born player in Nippon Professional Baseball while becoming the youngest player to earn Japan’s Triple Crown. He topped 30 homers in four straight years before an injury-interrupted season in 2023.
He has a .270 career average with 246 homers, 647 RBIs and 977 strikeouts in 892 games over eight Central League seasons, all with the Swallows.
Under the agreement between MLB and NPB, the posting fee is 20 per cent of the first US$25-million of a major league contract, including earned bonuses and options. The percentage drops to 17.5 per cent of the next US$25-million and 15 per cent of any amount over US$50-million.