As Murakami’s decision nears, a slow-developing market and hesitant contenders could give the White Sox a legitimate opportunity to land him for a surprising price.
Munetaka Murakami makes a ton of sense for the Chicago White Sox on paper.
Chicago could use a long-term solution at first base—or even at third base, if the organization ultimately decides that Miguel Vargas is better suited at first. Murakami, a 25-year-old Japanese superstar, can handle either position. He also brings something the White Sox desperately need: a left-handed bat with unprescedented power.
After being posted by the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, Murakami arrives in MLB with one of the most decorated résumés any international hitter has brought over in years. At just 22 years old, he won the Triple Crown in Japan, crushing 56 home runs and setting what remains the single-season home run record in NPB history.
That skill set checks nearly every box GM Chris Getz has publicly emphasized. A left-handed presence to balance the lineup. Premium power. And perhaps most importantly for a rebuilding team like the White Sox, a market that may be undervaluing him relative to his upside.
There are legitimate concerns, though. Murakami swings and misses more than teams would ideally like to see. His contact rate on pitches in the strike zone is...well, bad. And his strikeout numbers raise questions. Translating that profile to Major League Baseball—against the best pitchers in the world and consistently higher velocity—comes with risk.
But if it works—if Murakami becomes a Kyle Schwarber-type presence who offsets strikeouts with elite power—then whichever team lands him is getting a steal.
And right now, the market appears to be giving the White Sox a real opportunity.
On 670 The Score this weekend, MLB insider Bruce Levine suggested Chicago remains a legitimate possibility. The White Sox have been linked to Murakami more frequently as his December 22 posting deadline approaches without a decision.
Another key factor: baseball’s biggest spenders have been largely absent from the conversation. Teams are still waiting on decisions from players like Alex Bregman, Cody Bellinger, and Eugenio Suárez. Until those dominoes fall, many clubs are hesitant to commit to Murakami—even as his clock continues to tick.
“I’ve heard a little talk about the White Sox. That’s a possibility,” Levine said. “His market is going to be less than some of the bigger-name Japanese players we’ve discussed, like [Tatsuya] Imai and players like Seiya Suzuki who came over and signed $15–18 million-per-year contracts.”
That should be music to the ears of White Sox fans—and likely to the ears of the front office and owner Jerry Reinsdorf as well.
Earlier this week, ESPN projected the White Sox to land Murakami on a five-year, $80 million deal, which would make him the highest-paid player in franchise history. That’s a bold projection, rivaling—even slightly exceeding—the contract José Abreu received when he came over from Cuba.
But even that breaks down to $16 million per year—and Levine isn’t convinced Murakami reaches that number.
What if it’s five years for $65 million? Or $70 million?
There’s no reason the White Sox can’t make a competitive offer in that range.
It’s also important to remember that Murakami must finalize his contract by Monday’s deadline. That means an agreement could come at any moment.
Head on a swivel, White Sox fans. One way or another, an update is coming soon.