"New York Mets free-agent target and Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami signed a two-year, $34 million deal to join the Chicago White Sox on Sunday. The deal comes just one day before the 25-year-old's deadline to sign with an MLB team after being posted by his Japanese club, the Yakult Swallows. Had he not agreed to a deal by 5 p.m. ET on Monday, he would have been forced to go back to Japan for the 2026 season."
"Murakami would have provided notable risks, but the raw tangibles were still an attractive option. He hit an NPB record 56 home runs in 2022 and remained one of Japan's premier sluggers. His defense, however, is seen as a major weakness, as his glove at third and first base is not yet deemed passable. He also struggles with plate discipline his strikeout rate hovered near 30% and on pitches above 93 mph."
Munetaka Murakami agreed to a two-year, $34 million contract with the Chicago White Sox one day before his MLB signing deadline after being posted by the Yakult Swallows. The 25-year-old avoided being returned to Japan for the 2026 season by finalizing the deal before the deadline. Murakami offers elite power, having hit an NPB record 56 home runs in 2022, but carries defensive concerns at third and first base and notable plate-discipline issues, including a strikeout rate near 30% and difficulty with pitches above 93 mph. The short-term deal allows him to bet on himself and re-enter free agency at 27.
Read at www.amny.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]