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In a notable move for their rebuilding roster, the Chicago White Sox have officially added infielder Munetaka Murakami, finalizing a two-year contract for the accomplished player.

Contract Details and Player Perks

The agreement includes a $1 million signing bonus, to be paid within 30 days, alongside compensation of $16M for the next season and $17 million for the 2027 year.

Importantly, Murakami's 2027 salary can increase based on award achievements in 2026:

• A seven-figure bonus for being named the MVP award.
• Half a million dollars for placing in the top three in MVP voting.
• $250,000 for placing in the top ten.
• Another $250,000 for earning the top rookie honor.

The agreement also stipulates that he cannot be assigned to the minors without his approval and makes him a free agent at the termination of the deal. Further benefits include a club-supplied interpreter and airfare between Japan and the U.S..

Posting Fee and Franchise History

As part of the signing, Chicago owes a posting fee of roughly $6.58 million to the Swallows, Murakami's previous team in Japan's professional league. The Yakult organization would also receive a supplemental fee of 15% triggered incentive payments.

Murakami is set to become the fourth Japanese to represent the Chicago franchise, following pitcher Shingo Takatsu (2004-05), infielder Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07), and outfielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012). Of note, Takatsu was a manager for Murakami while both were in Japan.

Player Profile

Murakami, a lefty bat who will turn 26 in February, joins a promising group of offensive players in Chicago that includes prospects like Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, and Chase Meidroth. The club are coming off a difficult season, placing at the bottom in the division but showing a 19-game improvement from the prior campaign.

Having earned league MVP honors in '21 and '22, Murakami is renowned for a record-breaking 2022 season where he belted 56 HRs, breaking the longstanding record for a NPB hitter formerly held by icon Sadaharu Oh. That feat also made him the youngest player ever to achieve Japan's prestigious batting Triple Crown.

His last year was curtailed to just 56 appearances due to an oblique injury. Even with fanning 64 Ks, he hit .273 with 22 homers and 47 driven in.

Over his eight-season tenure with the Swallows, Murakami has compiled a .270 batting average with 246 HRs, 647 runs batted in, and 977 strikeouts in nearly 900 games. Early in his career playing primarily at first base, he has since transitioned to the hot corner.

WBC Heroics

Murakami's clutch hitting were on full display during the 2023 World Baseball Classic. In the penultimate game against Mexico, he hit a victory-sealing double that brought home Shohei Ohtani and Masataka Yoshida for a dramatic one-run win. The following day in the championship game against the USA, he slugged a game-tying homer in the second inning, paving the way for Japan's eventual 3-2 victory.

The new White Sox addition is scheduled to be formally introduced at a media availability on Monday.