CHICAGO -- It takes a deal of great significance to carve out Windy City headline space next to a walk-off Bears win over the Packers. But the White Sox accomplished that feat Sunday morning, agreeing to terms on a two-year, $34 million deal with Japanese free agent Munetaka Murakami.
The news was confirmed by a Major League source to MLB.com. The White Sox have yet to officially announce the deal, under which Murakami will be eligible for free agency, not arbitration, after the 2027 season.
Murakami’s posting period began on Nov. 7 and the 45-day negotiating window gave all 30 teams a chance to speak with the 25-year-old talent, with a deadline to sign of 5 p.m. ET/4 CT on Monday.
Murakami won back-to-back MVP Awards in NPB in 2021 and '22, and he was a four-time All-Star and the ‘19 Central League Rookie of the Year. He led the Swallows to an NPB championship in ‘21.
Not to mention, Murakami's 2022 season is one of the greatest all-around hitting seasons -- but especially power-hitting seasons -- in baseball history.
That year, a 22-year-old Murakami crushed 56 home runs -- breaking the legendary Sadaharu Oh's single-season NPB record for the most home runs by a Japanese-born player. He also won a batting Triple Crown, with a .318 batting average, those 56 homers and 134 RBIs, and his left-handed power is something the White Sox needed.
Murakami also brings the White Sox back into this particular sector of the international market, where they have been successful before, but not recently. Second baseman Tadahito Iguchi and closer Shingo Takatsu contributed to the team’s 2005 World Series victory.
The White Sox are coming off three straight 100-loss seasons, but they moved in the right direction with a more productive showing after last season’s All-Star break. The White Sox also have the top pick in the 2026 Draft, as secured through the Draft Lottery.
Murakami joins a burgeoning young core featuring shortstop Colson Montgomery, second baseman Chase Meidroth, catchers Kyle Teel and Edgar Quero, and right-handed hurlers Shane Smith and Grant Taylor, to name a few already at the big league level.
Murakami posted a career slash line of .273/.394/.550 with 265 home runs, 170 doubles, 722 RBIs and 678 walks against 1,068 strikeouts over 1,003 games and 4,246 plate appearances.
Murakami will begin his MLB career coming off a 2025 season in which he was limited to 56 games due to an oblique injury. But once he returned, he looked the best he had since that historic 2022 season. Murakami slugged 22 home runs in those 56 games -- an even higher home run pace than in 2022 -- while batting .273 with a .663 slugging percentage and 1.043 OPS.
His high ceiling as a superstar lefty slugger made Murakami one of the most anticipated free agents on the market this winter. But he was also one of the most polarizing.
That's because Murakami's strikeout totals and swing-and-miss rates have spiked since his monster 2022 season, while his walk rates and on-base percentage have declined, sparking concerns about his ability to make enough contact in the Major Leagues to take advantage of his tremendous power. Murakami in particular had issues against the higher-velocity fastballs and the wipeout breaking and offspeed pitches he’ll see more of in MLB.
There are also some questions about Murakami's defense. Murakami played both corner infield positions in Japan -- mainly third base, but also first base -- but he might spend more time at DH in the Majors. But elite young international power bats with Murakami's upside don't come around all that often.
Murakami did have some big moments against MLB pitching in the 2023 World Baseball Classic, where he helped lead Japan to a gold medal. In the championship game against the U.S., Murakami crushed a 115.1 mph, 432-foot home run off then-D-backs right-hander Merrill Kelly. He also ripped a 111.0 mph walk-off double off the wall against then-Cardinals reliever Giovanny Gallegos to complete Japan's comeback win over Mexico in the semifinals.