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In a notable move for their retooling roster, the South Side team have welcomed slugger Munetaka Murakami, completing a $34 million contract bringing in the high-profile player.

Contract Details and Incentives

The contract features a substantial signing bonus, payable within 30 days, combined with annual pay of $16M for the 2026 season and $17M for the following year.

Importantly, Murakami's compensation may grow based on performance achievements in 2026:

• An additional $1M for being named the Most Valuable Player award.
• $500K for finishing in the top three in MVP voting.
• $250,000 for finishing fourth through 10th.
• Another $250,000 for winning the ROY honor.

His deal provides that he will not be optioned to the minor leagues without his approval and allows him to become a unrestricted player at the conclusion of the term. Extra provisions include a team-provided interpreter and flight reimbursement between his home country and the States.

Posting Fee and Team Legacy

As part of the transaction, Chicago must pay a transfer fee of over $6.5 million to the Swallows, Murakami's former team in Japan's NPB. The Swallows would also receive a supplemental fee of any triggered salary escalators.

Murakami joins the ranks as the fourth-ever Japanese-born to play for the White Sox, in the footsteps of reliever Shingo Takatsu (2004-05), second baseman Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07), and fielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012). Interestingly, Takatsu previously coached Murakami while both were in Japan.

On-Field Accomplishments

Murakami, a left-side batter who turns 26 on February 2nd, bolsters a promising core of hitters in Chicago that contains prospects like Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, and Chase Meidroth. The club are coming off a last-place season, placing at the bottom in the division but showing a significant improvement from the prior campaign.

A two-time Most Valuable Player honors in 2021 and 2022, Murakami is renowned for a historic 2022 season where he belted 56 homers, eclipsing the single-season record for a NPB hitter formerly held by icon Sadaharu Oh. That performance also made him the most youthful hitter ever to achieve Japan's prestigious batting Triple Crown.

His last year was limited to a partial schedule due to an oblique injury. Despite recording 64 Ks, he still managed .273 with 22 homers and 47 driven in.

Over his eight-season tenure with the Yakult club, Murakami has accumulated a .270 career batting average with 246 homers, 647 RBI, and 977 Ks in nearly 900 games. Early in his career playing primarily at first base, he has spent most of his time to third.

International Pedigree

Murakami's clutch hitting were on global view during the 2023 World Baseball Classic. In the semifinal against Mexico, he hit a victory-sealing double that drove in two fellow Japanese stars for a thrilling one-run win. The very next day in the final against the Team USA, he slugged a game-tying shot in the second inning, setting the stage for Japan's subsequent championship win.

The new White Sox addition is slated to be officially presented at a introductory event on Monday.