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In a significant move for their overhauling roster, the South Side team have welcomed Japanese star Munetaka Murakami, finalizing a two-year contract bringing in the accomplished player.

Deal Structure and Incentives

The deal includes a seven-figure signing bonus, issued within 30 days, alongside annual pay of $16 million for the 2026 season and $17M for the 2027 year.

Importantly, Murakami's final-year pay may grow based on performance achievements in 2026:

• $1 million for earning the league MVP award.
• $500K for finishing in the top three in MVP voting.
• $250,000 for placing fourth through 10th.
• An identical bonus for being named the top rookie honor.

The contract includes that he cannot be sent to the minors without his approval and allows him to become a free agent at the termination of the term. Additional perks include a dedicated interpreter and airfare between his home country and the States.

Transfer Payment and Historical Context

As part of the transaction, Chicago owes a transfer fee of roughly $6.58 million to the Yakult Swallows, Murakami's former team in Japan's Central League. The Swallows get a additional payment of 15% triggered incentive payments.

Murakami will become the fourth Japanese-born to play for the White Sox, in the footsteps of reliever Shingo Takatsu (2004-05), second baseman Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07), and outfielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012). Notably, Takatsu previously coached Murakami while both were in Japan.

Player Profile

Murakami, a left-handed hitter who will turn 26 in February, joins a promising core of hitters in Chicago that contains prospects like Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, and Chase Meidroth. The White Sox are coming off a difficult season, placing at the bottom in the AL Central but showing a significant improvement from the prior campaign.

A two-time Most Valuable Player honors in 2021 and 2022, Murakami made history with a historic 2022 season where he launched 56 homers, eclipsing the longstanding record for a NPB hitter formerly held by legend Sadaharu Oh. That performance also made him the youngest player ever to secure Japan's coveted batting Triple Crown.

His most recent NPB campaign was shortened to a partial schedule due to an side strain. Despite recording 64 times, he hit .273 with 22 HRs and 47 RBIs.

Over his eight-year tenure with the Swallows, Murakami has compiled a .270 batting average with 246 homers, 647 RBIs, and 977 strikeouts in 892 contests. Early in his career playing primarily at first base, he has spent most of his time to third base.

Global Stage Success

Murakami's big-game performance were on global view during the 2023 World Baseball Classic. In the penultimate game against Mexico, he drove in a victory-sealing double that scored Shohei Ohtani and Masataka Yoshida for a dramatic 6-5 win. The very next day in the title match against the United States, he slugged a equalizing homer in the early innings, setting the stage for Japan's eventual 3-2 victory.

The lefty slugger is scheduled to be unveiled at a media availability on Monday.