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In a major move for their rebuilding roster, the South Side team have officially added Japanese star Munetaka Murakami, finalizing a two-year contract for the power-hitting player.

Financial Terms and Added Benefits

The agreement features a seven-figure signing bonus, issued within 30 days, alongside salaries of $16 million for the next season and $17 million for the 2027 year.

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

• An additional $1M for winning the league MVP award.
• Half a million dollars for finishing second or third in MVP voting.
• A quarter-million for finishing between fourth and tenth.
• $250,000 for being named the ROY honor.

The agreement includes that he cannot be assigned to the minor leagues without his permission and makes him a unrestricted player at the termination of the contract. Further benefits include a team-provided interpreter and travel costs between Japan and the U.S..

Posting Fee and Team Legacy

As part of the acquisition, Chicago must pay a transfer fee of roughly $6.58 million to the Yakult Swallows, Murakami's previous team in Japan's Central League. The Yakult organization are also entitled to a additional payment of fifteen percent triggered performance bonuses.

Murakami joins the ranks as the fourth Japanese to suit up for the South Siders, following reliever Shingo Takatsu (2004-05), second baseman Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07), and fielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012). Notably, Takatsu was a manager for Murakami while both were in Japan.

Career Highlights

Murakami, a left-side batter who will turn 26 soon, enters a promising lineup in Chicago that includes prospects like Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, and Chase Meidroth. The club are coming off a 60-102 season, finishing last in the division but showing a notable improvement from the previous campaign.

The winner of back-to-back league MVP honors in 2021 and 2022, Murakami made history with a historic 2022 season where he belted 56 homers, eclipsing the longstanding record for a Japanese-born player previously held by legend Sadaharu Oh. That year also made him the youngest player ever to win Japan's elusive batting Triple Crown.

His last year was limited to 56 games due to an oblique injury. Despite striking out 64 times, he batted .273 with 22 HRs and 47 RBIs.

Over his career tenure with the Swallows, Murakami has compiled a .270 batting average with 246 HRs, 647 RBI, and 977 Ks in 892 games. Initially playing primarily at first, he has since transitioned to third base.

WBC Heroics

Murakami's big-game performance were on center stage during the 2023 WBC. In the semi-final against Mexico, he delivered a game-ending double that brought home two fellow Japanese stars for a come-from-behind 6-5 victory. The very next day in the final against the Team USA, he hit a tying home run in the second inning, paving the way for Japan's 3-2 3-2 victory.

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