Recovery Chicago White Sox Added Munetaka Murakami to the roster on Sunday, agreeing to a two-year, $34 million contract with the Japanese slugger.
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 winning the MVP award, $500,000 for finishing second or third in voting, $250,000 for finishing fourth through 10th and $250,000 for being named 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 translation services and compensation for airfare between Japan and the United States.
Chicago owed a registration fee of $6,575,000 to Yakult, Murakami's Central League team. The Swallows will also receive an additional 15% charge on any escalator trip.
Murakami became the fourth player of Japanese descent to play for the White Sox, joining Shingo Takatsu (2004–05), second baseman Tadahito Iguchi (2005–07) and outfielder Kosuke Fukudoma (2012). Takatsu managed Murakami in Japan.
Murakami, who bats from the left, is due to be formally introduced at a press conference on Monday.
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.
Murakami hit 56 homers in 2022 and broke Sadaharu Oh's record for a Japanese-born player in the Nippon Professional. Baseball 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 a walk-off double off Giovanni Gallegos 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.
By agreement between Major League Baseball and NPB, the placement fee is 20% of the first $25 million of a major league contract, including earned bonuses and options. The percentage drops to 17.5% on the next $25 million and 15% on any amount above $50 million.
