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In a notable move for their rebuilding roster, the South Side team have signed Japanese star Munetaka Murakami, agreeing to a lucrative contract for the power-hitting player.

Financial Terms and Player Perks

The deal features a seven-figure signing bonus, to be paid within 30 days, combined with compensation of $16M for the upcoming season and $17M for the following year.

Importantly, Murakami's 2027 salary may grow based on accolade achievements in 2026:

• A seven-figure bonus for winning the league MVP award.
• $500K for finishing second or third in MVP voting.
• $250K for finishing fourth through 10th.
• $250,000 for earning the Rookie of the Year honor.

The contract provides that he will not be optioned to the minors without his permission and makes him a free agent at the end of the deal. Extra provisions include a dedicated interpreter and airfare between Japan and the U.S..

Posting Fee and Historical Context

As part of the transaction, Chicago owes a transfer fee of over $6.5 million to the Yakult Swallows, Murakami's previous team in Japan's NPB. The Yakult organization get a 15% cut of 15% triggered incentive payments.

Murakami will become the fourth-ever player from Japan to play for the White Sox, following reliever Shingo Takatsu (2004-05), infielder Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07), and fielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012). Of note, Takatsu previously coached Murakami while both were in Japan.

Career Highlights

Murakami, a lefty bat who will turn 26 soon, joins a young 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 American League Central but showing a significant improvement from the year before campaign.

A two-time Most Valuable Player honors in consecutive seasons, Murakami made history with a monumental 2022 season where he hit 56 home runs, surpassing the all-time record for a NPB hitter formerly held by legend Sadaharu Oh. That performance also made him the youngest player ever to secure Japan's elusive batting Triple Crown.

His 2023 season was limited to just 56 appearances due to an side strain. Despite striking out often, he still managed .273 with 22 HRs and 47 runs batted in.

Over his eight-year tenure with the Yakult club, Murakami has posted a .270 batting average with 246 HRs, 647 runs batted in, and 977 strikeouts in nearly 900 games. Early in his career playing mostly at first base, he has spent most of his time to third.

WBC Heroics

Murakami's heroics were on global view during the 2023 World Baseball Classic. In the semifinal against Mexico, he hit a game-ending two-base hit that drove in two fellow Japanese stars for a come-from-behind one-run win. The very next day in the championship game against the USA, he hit a tying homer in the early innings, paving the way for Japan's subsequent title triumph.

The power hitter is slated to be unveiled at a media availability on the coming Monday.