"Los Angeles Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto, fresh off a World Series MVP performance, appears to be doing some recruiting. This week, Yamamoto was spotted at dinner with top Japanese free agent Munetaka Murakami, who was posted for MLB teams on Nov. 8 and has until Dec. 22 to sign. More news: Dodgers Targeting Closer This Offseason Yamamoto and Murakami were teammates on Team Japan in the most recent World Baseball Classic. They both played in Nippon Professional Baseball."
"Murakami is coming to MLB after eight seasons in Japan. The 25-year-old is coming off a 2025 season in which he slashed .286/.392/.659 with 24 home runs, 52 RBIs and an OPS of 1.051 across 69 games. In his best season in 2022, he appeared in 141 games, slashing .318/.458/.710 with 56 home runs, 134 RBIs and an OPS of 1.168. Overall, Murakami hit 265 home runs over eight seasons in Japan."
Yoshinobu Yamamoto was seen dining with Munetaka Murakami, a top Japanese free agent posted to MLB on Nov. 8 with a signing deadline of Dec. 22. Both players represented Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic and previously played in Nippon Professional Baseball. Murakami, 25, hit .286/.392/.659 with 24 home runs and a 1.051 OPS in 2025 and produced a career-high 56 home runs and 134 RBIs in 2022. He totaled 265 home runs over eight NPB seasons. Defensive concerns and the Dodgers' existing corner-infield depth complicate a clear roster fit.
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