The Chicago White Sox shocked Major League Baseball by coming out as the winners of the Munetaka Murakami sweepstakes this off-season. They signed the Japanese slugger to a two-year $34 million, a significant investment for a team that has struggled to return to competitive levels for a long time.
Of course, signing Murakami was not the only free agent addition that the White Sox made. He was, however, the most notable and arguably could have the biggest impact on the team.
Which begs the question: what if the White Sox struggle in 2026 as they have over the last several years? There is a belief that Murakami could get traded, if that ends up being the case.
Chicago White Sox predicted to trade Munetaka Murakami to the Pittsburgh Pirates
Feb 20, 2026; Mesa, Arizona, USA; Chicago White Sox third baseman Munetaka Murakami (5) hits a single against the Chicago Cubs in the third inning at Sloan Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images
Bleacher Report recently posted an article in which they predicted where the biggest names in trade rumors will end the season. Despite the fact that Murakami has not yet taken an official Major League at bat, he was on the list.
And if the White Sox fail to be competitive in 2026, they believe Chicago will trade the slugger to the Pittsburgh Pirates:
“What happens if Murakami does a pretty good impersonation of “peak Joey Gallo” for four months while things otherwise go every bit as poorly for Chicago as the past three seasons have?
“Goodness knows, these would-be sellers don’t have a whole lot to sell. The White Sox only have eight players on the payroll who aren’t under team control for at least four more years, and most of them are regrettable contracts (Andrew Benintendi, Jordan Hicks) and/or reclamation projects (Erick Fedde, Anthony Kay).
“If they were to make him available, there’s a good chance the Pirates would come calling.
“Pittsburgh upgraded a bunch of spots in its lineup this offseason, adding Marcell Ozuna, Brandon Lowe, Ryan O’Hearn, Jake Mangum, and Jhostynxon Garcia to what had been a hapless offense in 2025. But both corner infield spots remain a considerable weak point, with Jared Triolo the projected starter at third base and Spencer Horwitz probably the choice at first.
“They tried to get Eugenio Suárez late in the offseason, but missed out as he went back to Cincinnati instead. If this much busier than usual winter gets them into the running for October for a change, maybe they trade for a big bat at either corner.”
It would really be a shame if the biggest free agent signing in recent history, Murakami, did not even get to complete a full season in Chicago. Given the state of the organization, though, it is entirely a possibility as they continue to try and rebuild.
The real hope, though, is that the White Sox are competitive this season and that Murakami’s power translates to the Major Leagues.
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