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In a major move for their retooling roster, the South Side team have officially added Japanese star Munetaka Murakami, completing a lucrative contract bringing in the high-profile player.

Financial Terms and Player Perks

The agreement includes a $1 million signing bonus, issued within 30 days, in addition to salaries of $16 million for the next season and $17M for the following year.

Additionally, Murakami's 2027 salary may grow based on performance achievements in 2026:

• $1 million for earning the Most Valuable Player award.
• Half a million dollars for placing as runner-up or in third place in MVP voting.
• A quarter-million for ranking between fourth and tenth.
• $250,000 for winning the Rookie of the Year honor.

The agreement includes that he will not be optioned to the minors without his permission and allows him to become a free agent at the conclusion of the term. Extra provisions include a club-supplied interpreter and airfare between Japan and the U.S..

Compensation and Franchise History

As part of the signing, Chicago is obligated to provide a transfer fee of over $6.5 million to the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, Murakami's former team in Japan's NPB. The Swallows are also entitled to a supplemental fee of 15% triggered performance bonuses.

Murakami will become the fourth-ever player from Japan to suit up for the White Sox, in the footsteps of reliever Shingo Takatsu (2004-05), second baseman Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07), and outfielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012). Of note, Takatsu previously coached Murakami while both were in Japan.

Player Profile

Murakami, a lefty bat who will turn 26 soon, enters a young lineup 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 American League Central but representing a significant improvement from the prior campaign.

Having earned Most Valuable Player honors in consecutive seasons, Murakami is famous for a monumental 2022 season where he belted 56 HRs, breaking the single-season 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 coveted batting Triple Crown.

His 2023 season was limited to a partial schedule due to an oblique injury. Even with striking out often, he still managed .273 with 22 home runs and 47 RBIs.

Over his eight-season tenure with the Yakult club, Murakami has accumulated a .270 batting average with 246 HRs, 647 RBIs, and 977 Ks in 892 games. He started playing primarily at first, he has more recently played to third.

WBC Heroics

Murakami's big-game performance were on global view during the 2023 World Baseball Classic. In the semifinal against Mexico, he drove in a walk-off double that scored two fellow Japanese stars for a thrilling 6-5 win. The next night in the championship game against the USA, he blasted a tying homer in the second inning, paving the way for Japan's eventual championship win.

The power hitter is set to be unveiled at a press conference on the coming Monday.