The Chicago White Sox have agreed to terms with Japanese superstar Munetaka Murakami on a two-year, $34 million contract in free agency.
The Chicago White Sox got it done.
Chicago has agreed to terms on a two-year, $34 million contract with Japanese superstar Munetaka Murakami, a 25-year-old corner infielder who holds the NPB single-season home run record after blasting 56 in one season.
Murakami has been on the radar of Major League Baseball teams for years. But as the time finally came for him to make the jump to MLB, concerns began to surface—most notably about his strikeout rate and swing-and-miss tendencies against pitching in Japan. Some scouts questioned whether he would be able to handle elite velocity at the big-league level.
That uncertainty dramatically altered Murakami’s market. What once looked like a slam-dunk $100 million deal turned into a shorter-term, prove-it contract designed to help him establish his value. He’ll now have a chance to hit free agency again at 27.
With the market settling at a more realistic price point and a shorter-term commitment, and Murakami facing a December 22 deadline to finalize a deal, teams that typically show hesitation in free agency—like the White Sox—were able to get involved. And this time, they finished the job instead of settling for "a seat at the table."
Murakami is headed to the South Side.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Murakami is expected to play first base for the White Sox, with Miguel Vargas shifting to third base for the 2026 season. It’s a move that immediately reshapes Chicago’s infield and adds a legitimate power threat to the middle of the lineup.
The only real downside for White Sox fans is that the deal isn’t longer. Yes, long-term contracts come with added risk—but if the White Sox strike gold here, they could find themselves at risk of losing Murakami just before their projected contention window fully opens. If he turns into the next Kyle Schwarber-type bat, that reality will sting.
That said, beggars can’t be choosers.
White Sox fans have been desperate for additions that actually move the needle. This is one of them. It’s hard not to celebrate a move that brings legitimate upside, star power, and excitement back into the organization.
This was already a young, intriguing core on the South Side. It just got a whole lot more fun to watch.
Credit to Chris Getz and the White Sox front office for getting it done—and for addressing multiple needs in one move: power, first base, and a feared left-handed bat.