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In a major move for their retooling roster, the Chicago White Sox have welcomed Japanese star Munetaka Murakami, agreeing to a two-year contract for the power-hitting player.

Contract Details and Player Perks

The contract includes a $1 million signing bonus, payable within 30 days, alongside annual pay of $16M for the 2026 season and $17M for the following year.

Notably, Murakami's compensation can increase based on award achievements in 2026:

• An additional $1M for being named the league MVP award.
• $500,000 for finishing in the top three in MVP voting.
• $250K for placing in the top ten.
• Another $250,000 for winning the top rookie honor.

The agreement provides that he cannot be sent to the minor leagues without his approval and makes him a unrestricted player at the end of the term. Additional perks include a team-provided interpreter and travel costs between the U.S. and Japan.

Posting Fee and Historical Context

As part of the transaction, Chicago is obligated to provide a compensation payment of $6,575,000 to the Swallows, Murakami's previous team in Japan's professional league. The Japanese club are also entitled to a 15% cut of 15% triggered salary escalators.

Murakami is set to become the fourth Japanese-born to suit up for the White Sox, following reliever Shingo Takatsu (2004-05), infielder Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07), and fielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012). Of note, Takatsu previously coached Murakami during their time in Japan.

Player Profile

Murakami, a left-handed hitter who turns 26 in February, joins a emerging group of offensive players in Chicago that includes prospects like Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, and Chase Meidroth. The team are coming off a difficult season, placing at the bottom in the division but showing a 19-game improvement from the prior campaign.

The winner of back-to-back Central League MVP honors in 2021 and 2022, Murakami made history with a monumental 2022 season where he belted 56 home runs, eclipsing the longstanding record for a player in Japan previously held by icon Sadaharu Oh. That performance also made him the most youthful hitter ever to achieve Japan's elusive batting Triple Crown.

His most recent NPB campaign was curtailed to a partial schedule due to an muscle issue. Despite recording 64 times, he batted .273 with 22 home runs and 47 driven in.

Over his eight-year tenure with the Swallows, Murakami has accumulated a .270 batting average with 246 HRs, 647 RBI, and 977 strikeouts in 892 games. Early in his career playing mostly at first base, he has spent most of his time to third base.

International Pedigree

Murakami's big-game performance were on center stage during the last World Baseball Classic. In the semifinal against Mexico, he hit a game-ending double that brought home Shohei Ohtani and Masataka Yoshida for a come-from-behind 6-5 victory. The following day in the championship game against the Team USA, he slugged a tying home run in the second inning, helping Japan's eventual title triumph.

The power hitter is scheduled to be formally introduced at a media availability on the coming Monday.