🔗 Share this article Chicago White Sox Land Power Bat Munetaka Murakami on a Substantial Multi-Million Dollar Deal. In a significant move for their overhauling roster, the American League club have officially added infielder Munetaka Murakami, completing a lucrative contract bringing in the high-profile player. Financial Terms and Added Benefits The agreement grants a $1 million signing bonus, to be paid within 30 days, in addition to salaries of $16M for the upcoming season and seventeen million for the final year. Importantly, Murakami's 2027 salary is subject to escalators based on performance achievements in 2026: $1 million for earning the league MVP award. Half a million dollars for finishing second or third in MVP voting. $250K for finishing fourth through 10th. An identical bonus for winning the ROY honor. The contract includes that he cannot be sent to the minors without his approval and allows him to become a unrestricted player at the termination of the term. Extra provisions include a club-supplied interpreter and airfare between his home country and the States. Posting Fee and Franchise History As part of the signing, Chicago is obligated to provide a compensation payment of $6,575,000 to the Yakult Swallows, Murakami's previous team in Japan's professional league. The Japanese club are also entitled to a additional payment of any triggered performance bonuses. Murakami joins the ranks as the fourth Japanese-born to play for the White Sox, in the footsteps of pitcher Shingo Takatsu (2004-05), second baseman Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07), and fielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012). Notably, Takatsu was a manager for Murakami during their time in Japan. Career Highlights Murakami, a left-handed hitter who turns 26 on February 2nd, bolsters a young group of offensive players in Chicago that also features prospects like Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, and Chase Meidroth. The White Sox are coming off a 60-102 season, finishing last in the AL Central but showing a significant improvement from the previous campaign. Having earned Central League MVP honors in consecutive seasons, Murakami is famous for a monumental 2022 season where he hit 56 home runs, breaking the all-time record for a player in Japan previously held by legend Sadaharu Oh. That year also made him the most youthful hitter ever to win Japan's prestigious batting Triple Crown. His most recent NPB campaign was curtailed to a partial schedule due to an muscle issue. Even with fanning often, he batted .273 with 22 HRs and 47 driven in. Over his career tenure with the Yakult club, Murakami has compiled a .270 batting average with 246 home runs, 647 runs batted in, and 977 Ks in nearly 900 games. Initially playing mostly at first, he has more recently played to the hot corner. Global Stage Success Murakami's clutch hitting were on global view during the 2023 World Baseball Classic. In the semifinal against Mexico, he delivered a game-ending double that scored Shohei Ohtani and Masataka Yoshida for a dramatic one-run win. The very next day in the championship game against the United States, he slugged a game-tying home run in the early innings, paving the way for Japan's 3-2 title triumph. The new White Sox addition is scheduled to be officially presented at a press conference on Monday.