After coming off a historically awful season in 2024 (41-121), the Chicago White Sox improved their record by 19 games in 2025 (60-102) and will continue to get better in 2026.
More News: Chicago White Sox sign Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami to two-year deal
The White Sox have a nice young core heading into 2026, but need to supplement them with players from outside the organization to give their lineup and roster more balance. Not likely to find that player on the free agent market, the White Sox could get it from the Japanese market, with MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand reporting that the White Sox are one of the teams engaged in contract talks with third/first baseman Munetaka Murakami.
Murakami’s posting window to sign with a major league club ends on Monday, Dec. 22, at 5 p.m. Eastern Time. Known for his power (hitting 56 home runs in 2022), Murakami would bring big-time power to a White Sox lineup (28th in slugging percentage, .373), but he does come with a ton of strikeouts (striking out over 180 times twice).
The White Sox are among the teams currently engaged in talks with Munetaka Murakami, sources tell me and @scottmerkin. Murakami’s posting window to sign with a Major League club expires on Monday at 5pm ET.
— Mark Feinsand (@Feinsand) December 21, 2025
Munetaka Murakami would certainly upgrade the Chicago White Sox lineup
Despite striking out a ton, signing Murakami would be beneficial for the White Sox. The White Sox’s leader in home runs last season was second baseman Lenyn Sosa, who nearly tripled his home run total in 2025 (22) from 2024 (eight), so signing Murakami would give the Sox someone with 30+ home run potential.
The White Sox currently have an opening at first base, and with Murakami’s ability to play over there, signing him would make sense. The White Sox have a history of Japanese players joining the franchise, with infielder Tadahito Iguchi being the most notable, as he helped the White Sox win the 2005 World Series.
Maybe Murakami could be the next Japanese player to join the White Sox and the young core they’re forming, and bring another World Series trophy back to Chicago.
Chicago White Sox sign Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami to two-year deal
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