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In a notable move for their rebuilding roster, the American League club have signed infielder Munetaka Murakami, completing a $34 million contract for the power-hitting player.

Financial Terms and Player Perks

The contract grants a seven-figure signing bonus, to be paid within 30 days, in addition to salaries of $16 million for the 2026 season and $17M for the 2027 year.

Notably, Murakami's final-year pay is subject to escalators based on performance achievements in 2026:

• An additional $1M for winning the Most Valuable Player award.
• $500,000 for finishing as runner-up or in third place in MVP voting.
• $250K for finishing between fourth and tenth.
• An identical bonus for earning the Rookie of the Year honor.

His deal provides that he cannot be sent to the minor leagues without his approval and makes him a unrestricted player at the end of the term. Extra provisions include a club-supplied interpreter and flight reimbursement between Japan and the U.S..

Posting Fee and Team Legacy

As part of the transaction, Chicago owes a posting fee of over $6.5 million to the Swallows, Murakami's former team in Japan's Central League. The Yakult organization get a 15% cut of 15% triggered salary escalators.

Murakami joins the ranks as the fourth player from Japan to represent the Chicago franchise, following reliever Shingo Takatsu (2004-05), infielder Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07), and outfielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012). Interestingly, Takatsu was a manager for Murakami back in Japan.

Player Profile

Murakami, a left-side batter who turns 26 on February 2nd, bolsters a promising lineup in Chicago that includes prospects like Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, and Chase Meidroth. The team are finished with a last-place season, placing last in the AL Central but showing a 19-game improvement from the previous campaign.

Having earned league MVP honors in 2021 and 2022, Murakami is renowned for a record-breaking 2022 season where he belted 56 home runs, eclipsing the single-season record for a player in Japan previously held by legend Sadaharu Oh. That feat also made him the youngest player ever to secure Japan's prestigious Triple Crown.

His last year was curtailed to just 56 appearances due to an side strain. Despite striking out 64 Ks, he batted .273 with 22 home runs and 47 driven in.

Over his eight-season tenure with the Swallows, Murakami has posted a .270 batting average with 246 home runs, 647 RBI, and 977 Ks in nearly 900 games. Early in his career playing mostly at first, he has more recently played to third base.

International Pedigree

Murakami's heroics were on full display during the 2023 WBC. In the semi-final against Mexico, he drove in a walk-off double that brought home Shohei Ohtani and Masataka Yoshida for a thrilling 6-5 win. The next night in the title match against the USA, he slugged a game-tying shot in the early innings, setting the stage for Japan's subsequent 3-2 victory.

The lefty slugger is scheduled to be unveiled at a media availability on Monday.