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In a major move for their rebuilding roster, the Chicago White Sox have welcomed infielder Munetaka Murakami, finalizing a lucrative contract with the power-hitting player.

Financial Terms and Incentives

The deal features a seven-figure signing bonus, payable within 30 days, combined with compensation of $16 million for the 2026 season and $17 million for the following year.

Additionally, Murakami's 2027 salary can increase based on performance achievements in 2026:

• A seven-figure bonus for earning the league MVP award.
• Half a million dollars for placing in the top three in MVP voting.
• A quarter-million for finishing in the top ten.
• Another $250,000 for winning the top rookie honor.

The agreement includes that he will not be optioned to the farm system without his approval and grants him a free agent at the conclusion of the term. Additional perks include a team-provided interpreter and travel costs between his home country and the States.

Compensation and Team Legacy

As part of the signing, Chicago owes a transfer fee of $6,575,000 to the Yakult Swallows, Murakami's longtime team in Japan's professional league. The Yakult organization are also entitled to a 15% cut of fifteen percent triggered incentive payments.

Murakami will become the fourth-ever Japanese to suit up for the Chicago franchise, in the footsteps of pitcher Shingo Takatsu (2004-05), infielder Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07), and fielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012). Of note, Takatsu previously coached Murakami back in Japan.

Career Highlights

Murakami, a lefty bat who will turn 26 on February 2nd, enters a young core of hitters in Chicago that includes prospects like Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, and Chase Meidroth. The White Sox are coming off a last-place season, placing last in the division but showing a notable improvement from the previous campaign.

Having earned league MVP honors in consecutive seasons, Murakami made history with a historic 2022 season where he hit 56 homers, breaking the single-season record for a NPB hitter formerly held by legend Sadaharu Oh. That feat also made him the youngest player ever to achieve Japan's prestigious batting Triple Crown.

His 2023 season was limited to a partial schedule due to an side strain. Despite fanning 64 Ks, he still managed .273 with 22 homers and 47 RBIs.

Over his eight-year tenure with the Swallows, Murakami has compiled a .270 lifetime batting average with 246 homers, 647 runs batted in, and 977 Ks in 892 contests. Early in his career playing mostly at first, he has spent most of his time to the hot corner.

WBC Heroics

Murakami's clutch hitting were on center stage during the 2023 WBC. In the penultimate game against Mexico, he drove in a game-ending two-base hit that drove in Shohei Ohtani and Masataka Yoshida for a thrilling 6-5 victory. The following day in the final against the Team USA, he slugged a tying home run in the early innings, helping Japan's eventual 3-2 victory.

The lefty slugger is scheduled to be unveiled at a press conference on the coming Monday.