White Sox make unexpected move, sign Japanese star Munetaka Murakami

The Chicago White Sox, not expected to be key players in offseason free agency, are signing Japanese star Munetaka Murakami to a two-year, $34 million contract, ESPN reported Sunday.

The deadline for Murakami to sign after being posted by the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball is 5 p.m. ET on Monday.

Murakami, 25, is an infielder and expected to play first base for Chicago. In the 2025 season, the left-handed power hitter blasted 22 homers in an injury-shortened (oblique) season.

In his career, Murakami has 265 home runs, 722 RBIs and an average of .273 in 1,003 career games, He hit a career-high 56 home runs in 2022, the most for a season in Japanese baseball history by a player born in Japan. The previous record was Japanese record holder Sadaharu Oh, who played 22 seasons with the Yomiuri Giants (1959-1980).

Oh hit 55 in 1964, his highest total ever.

Murakami's free agency didn't develop quite as expected, per ESPN. Worries about defense and his tendencies to strike out seemingly kept teams from entering a bidding war.

By signing a two-year deal, he can be a free agent again after the 2027 season, using his time with the White Sox as a chance to show his skills to the rest of MLB.

What he most will be looking to show is improved composure at the plate. His career strikeout percentage is 25.2% after 446 strikeouts in 1,068 innings pitched.

The White Sox lost 100 games in each of the past three seasons but are a team on the rise. They have the No. 1 pick in the draft in July and are expected to select UCLA shortstop Roch Cholowsky.

Trades of pitchers Garrett Crochet and Lucas Giolito yielded a crop of top prospects such as infielders Colson Montgomery and Chase Meidroth, and catchers Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero.

Perhaps Chicago could make an unexpected run in the AL Central and interest Murakami enough to sign a longer-term contract after the 2027 season.

Chicago's total outlay to sign Murakami will be $40.575 million, with the Swallows receiving a $6.575 million posting fee from the White Sox.

--Field Level Media