CHICAGO – Recovery Chicago White Sox added Munetaka Murakami to their roster, agreeing to a two-year, $34 million contract with the Japanese slugger.
The deal was first reported by ESPN's Jeff Passan.
Murakami, who turns 26 on Feb. 2, joins a promising group of young forwards that also includes Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teal and Chase Meidroth. The White Sox finished last in the AL Central this year with a record of 60–102, 19 games better than the previous season.
Murakami will receive a $1 million signing bonus payable within 30 days, as well as a salary of $16 million next year and $17 million in 2027.
His 2027 salary could increase based on awards received in 2026: $1 million for MVP, $500,000 for second or third place in voting, $250,000 for fourth through 10th place and $250,000 for Rookie of the Year.
He cannot be relegated without his consent and will become a free agent at the end of his contract. He also receives interpreter services and airfare reimbursement between Japan and the United States.
The White Sox owed $6,575,000 in royalties to Yakult, Murakami's Central League team. Swallows will also receive an additional 15 percent fee for operating escalators.
Murakami was the Central League MVP in 2021 and 2022. The corner infielder was limited to 56 games this season due to an oblique injury. He struck out 64 times, but he batted .273 with 22 homers and 47 RBIs.
In 2022, Murakami hit 56 homers, breaking Sadaharu Oh's record for the most Japanese-born player in Nippon professional baseball and also becoming the youngest player to win the Japanese Triple Crown. He led the league with 30 homers four straight years before the 2023 season was cut short due to injury.
He has a career batting average of .270 with 246 homers, 647 RBIs and 977 strikeouts in 892 games over eight Central League seasons, all with the Swallows.
After playing primarily at first base in 2019 and 2020, he has spent most of his time at third since then.
At the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Murakami hit Giovanni Gallegos' final double to lead Shohei Ohtani and Masataka Yoshida to a 6–5 semifinal victory over Mexico. The next day in the championship game, Murakami hit the tying home run off Merrill Kelly in the second inning and Japan beat the United States 3–2.
Under the agreement between MLB and NPB, the placement fee is 20 percent of the first $25 million of a major league contract, including earned bonuses and options. The percentage drops to 17.5 percent on the next $25 million and 15 percent on any amount above $50 million. An additional 15% will apply on any bonuses earned, salary escalators and options exercised.
