Chicago White Sox slugger, first baseman/designated hitter Munetaka Murakami, has been on a tear to begin the year.

More News: Chicago White Sox return prospect to the Red Sox

Early into his big league career, Murakamai has mashed four home runs. According to MLB’s Sarah Langs, the 26-year-old’s four home runs are the most by a Japanese-born player through their first eight games.

Murakami’s fourth home run came against Toronto Blue Jays left-hander Brandon Little. In the top of the sixth inning of Saturday’s game. Little threw Murakami a 1-0 sinker that ran back across the plate. Muraki didn’t miss and sent the pitch 431 feet to dead center field for a two-run homer.

Munetaka Murakami’s four home runs are the most by a Japanese-born player in his first 8 career MLB games https://t.co/XYcYOjI9LT

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) April 4, 2026

Munetaka Murakami and Colson Montgomery have proven to be the Chicago White Sox’s source of power

Murakami is settling into hitting at the top of the order. So far, he is the White Sox leader in home runs and RBI (seven). Shortstop Colson Montgomery is second after hitting his second home run in the same inning as Murakami.

Montgomery’s first home run was a grand slam against the Milwaukee Brewers. Little again threw a hanging sinker on a 3-1 count that Montgomery didn’t miss and deposited over the right field fence.

round trip for Colson Montgomery pic.twitter.com/tXXTsdaEwJ

— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) April 4, 2026

The White Sox ranked 23rd in home runs last season (165). This means the White Sox will rely on Murakami (24 last season) and Montgomery (21) to continue to generate the team’s power.

The post Chicago White Sox Munetaka Murakami continues to make history appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago White Sox are not off to a good start in the 2026 MLB season. After going 41-120 in 2024 and 60-102 in 2025, fans did not have high expectations for them this year. The hope was that they would at least play decent baseball and show some improvement.

But they haven’t.

Through the first six games of the season, the White Sox are just 1-5. They are tied with the Boston Red Sox and Athletics for the worst record baseball.

But what is worse is the fact that Chicago has a -31 run differential right now, by far the worst in all the Majors. The next closest team to them is the Red Sox, who have a -15 run differential.

Munetaka Murakami gives the Chicago White Sox a much-needed silver lining

Indeed, the White Sox have not played very inspiring baseball early on in the season. And while there is still plenty of time, there is microscopic hope that they will right the ship.

That being said, rookie first baseman Munetaka Murakami has at least given fans a new star to cheer for. MLB.com recently named him Chicago’s biggest takeaway from the first week’s worth of games:

“By his own admission, the left-handed-hitting first baseman from Japan has plenty of work to do as he begins his Major League career. In fact, Murakami has focused more on early shortcomings and the process for improvement even when opening weekend accolades were heaped upon him.

“But Murakami became the first player in White Sox franchise history to have a home run in each of his first three big league games, not to mention producing a hit in each of his first five, an RBI in four of those five and showing great patience at the plate with a walk in three of those five. He appears to be a needed bonafide power source.”

Through six games, Murakami is hitting .238/.360/.667 with three home runs and five RBI. As noted above, he hit a home run in each of his first three Major League games. Unfortunately, they were all solo shots and the White Sox lost each of those games.

An additional frustration is that he has struck out nine times in six games. It appears that the high strikeout totals that gave some Major League teams pause when he was on the market did indeed follow him over from Japan.

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• White Sox call up Lucas Sims before series finale vs Marlins
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Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago White Sox are off to one of the worst starts in Major League Baseball this season. They are currently 1-4 through their first five games and in last place in the American League Central Division. What is more, their -21 run differential is the worst in baseball. In fact, they are the only team with a run differential worse than -14.

This being said, no one expected the White Sox to be good this year. After going 60-102 a year ago, fans are hoping to see a bit more improvement in 2026 as they continue to rebuild.

Fortunately, Munetaka Murakami has given Chicago fans a fun player to rally behind and cheer for amid the team’s lack of winning.

Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami named one of MLB’s hottest rookies

When Murakami first announced that he was going to transition to Major League Baseball after eight seasons in Japan, many thought he would get a lot of interest from multiple teams. However, due to his high strikeout totals, that interest never really materialized.

As a result, Murakami signed a two-year $34 million contract with Chicago. So far, he has impressed fans by homering in his first three Major League games. Overall, he is hitting .278/.409/.778 with three home runs and 4 RBI through five games.

Buster Onley of ESPN recently named him one of the six hottest rookies in MLB:

“He is super determined,” White Sox head of baseball operation Chris Getz said of Murakami. “It’s very clear he wants to prove to someone that he’s real. He’s very serious.”

And very dangerous for pitchers: Murakami homered in each of Chicago’s three games against the Milwaukee Brewers. “Put the home runs aside — the quality of his at-bats really stood out,” Getz said, mentioning how his rookie faced some of the Brewers’ hard throwers, such as Jacob Misiorowski.

It’s clear to Getz that Murakami is not just an all-or-nothing slugger, with how he adapts throughout the ball-strike count, and Getz expects that as the 26-year-old faces more major league pitching he’ll continue to make adjustments.

Through the first five games of the season, Murakami has struck out seven times and has drawn four walks. As the year goes on, his individual success will rely on his ability to adjust further to Major League pitching.

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• Former Cubs and White SP impresses in Diamondbacks debut
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Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago White Sox made one of the most surprising free agent splashes of the MLB off-season. When Munetaka Murakami first announced his intention to transition from Japan to Major League Baseball, few thought that the White Sox would be in play for the slugging first baseman.

However, because of concerns over Murakami’s high strikeout totals in Japan, Major League teams were hesitant to give him a long and lucrative contract. As a result, Chicago was able to swoop in and snag the slugger for two years and $34 million.

The 2026 MLB season is still in its infancy, but Murakami has already made a stellar impression on baseball fans in the United States. However, it somehow was not good enough to even crack a top-25 MLB rookies list.

Chicago White Sox star Munetaka Murakami somehow left off top-25 rookie ranking

Recently, Bleacher Report released their list of the top 25 rookies around Major League Baseball. Their criteria was simply that the rookies begin the season on their team’s Opening Day rosters. Munetaka, of course, began the season on Chicago’s Opening Day roster.

However, for whatever reason, he was not included on the list of the top 25 rookies around baseball.

In his first four games in the Majors, Murakami is hitting .286/.444/.929 with three home runs and three RBI. He also has walked four times and struck out five times.

There are, of course, many talented young rookies across Major League Baseball. However, the fact that Murakami is not included on the list of the top-25 is highly questionable. Perhaps it is because he spent eight seasons playing professionally at the highest level in Japan, but he is still a Major League rookie in 2026.

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Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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Chicago White Sox slugger, first baseman/designated hitter Munetaka Murakami, has been making waves three games into his MLB career.

More News: Munetaka Murakami historic 2 game effort is 1 bright spot for White Sox

The 26-year-old slugger has homered in the first three games to start his career, joining three others to do so. Cleveland Guardians rookie outfielder Chase DeLauter recently accomplished the feat, having four total against the Seattle Mariners (March 26-28)

Infielder Trevor Story — four with the Colorado Rockies in 2016 — and outfielder Kyle Lewis — three with the Mariners in 2019 — are the other two.

Munetaka Murakami joins Chase DeLauter, Trevor Story, and Kyle Lewis as the only players to homer in their first three regular season MLB games https://t.co/QWxH7iZGDr pic.twitter.com/zcLA6kknK6

— MLB (@MLB) March 29, 2026

Munetaka Murakami is quickly becoming a force in the Chicago White Sox lineup

Murakami is quickly showing manager Will Venable why he should be batting him in the heart of the order. To open the season, Murakami has hit sixth, cleanup (fourth) and batting second in the finale against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Sunday starters: pic.twitter.com/p3w64JJMEE

— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) March 29, 2026

Murakami is picking up where he left off in spring training. In nine games, he batted .276 with a .771 OPS and a home run. The Japanese slugger also hit a home run in the World Baseball Classic for Japan.

If Murakami keeps mashing home runs, Venable will need to think about keeping him in the two through four spots in the lineup.

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Slugger Munetaka Murakami was the marquee signing for the Chicago White Sox this offseason, agreeing to a two-year, $34 million deal after establishing himself as one of Japan’s most prolific home run hitters. Through his first two Major League Baseball games, that power has carried over as he’s recorded one hit in each contest, and both have been home runs.

Having hit home runs in back-to-back contests to begin the 2026 season, Murakami has found himself in the White Sox history books as the only player ever with that accomplishment. He also joined Kenji Johjima as the second Japanese born and former NPB player to hit homers in each of their first two MLB games.

Munetaka Murakami is the second Japanese-born former NPB player to homer in each of his first two MLB games, joining Kenji Johjima

He’s. also the first player in White Sox history to homer in each of his first two career games https://t.co/X9WHyKYeGU

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) March 29, 2026

Munetaka Murakami is poised for a big year with the Chicago White Sox

Before arriving in MLB, Murakami spent eight seasons in NPB, launching 246 home runs. His peak came in 2022, when he blasted 56, and he topped the 30-homer mark in five of those eight seasons.

He won’t homer in every game this year, but already having two in March is an encouraging sign. It’s not unrealistic to expect him to finish among the league’s top power hitters this season.

In the long run, if this opening stretch is any indication, Murakami could quickly become a cornerstone for the Chicago White Sox lineup. His power has already translated against Major League Baseball pitching, offering a glimpse of the impact he can make over a full season. While consistency and adjustments will ultimately define his success, the early returns suggest he is more than capable of living up to expectations.

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The Chicago White Sox are expected to be an intriguing team heading into the 2026 season. They have some new additions who are expected to shine as the young roster develops. There is a lot of intrigue with how this team does with their young talent. One outlet had a bold prediction for one of the players, so let’s take a look at who it is and the prediction.

CBS Sports predicts Munetaka Murakami will win the 2026 Home Run Derby

Munetaka Murakami has been one of the more interesting players as he prepares to make his MLB debut. Mike Axisa of CBS Sports wrote an article making bold predictions for all 30 teams. For the White Sox, his prediction does not take place until the All-Star break. Axisa’s prediction sees Murakami winning the 2026 Home Run Derby, and he explains it below:

“The Murakami signing was my favorite move of the offseason. That doesn’t mean I think it was the best move of the offseason, but I love the rebuilding ChiSox rolling the dice on a 26-year-old with enormous, game-changing power. There is major swing-and-miss risk I know, but two years and $34 million is nothing. It’s a potential steal, and if things don’t work out, the White Sox can walk away in 18 months. Anyway, this bold prediction says Murakami will get a chance to showcase his power at the Home Run Derby in July and he’ll win the thing. He would be the first Japenese-born player to do so.”

Murakami is expected to be a solid contender of the AL Rookie of the Year Award this season as well. He has showcased his power numbers with 265 career hme runs across the Japanese leagues and the World Baseball Classic. He has hit two homers since joining the White Sox (one Spring Training, one World Baseball Classic). It will be intriguing to see how his power stroke looks against MLB pitching.

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The Chicago White Sox are set to take on the Milwaukee Brewers in their first series of the 2026 MLB season. It will kick off what is sure to be another rebuilding season on the south side. Unlike in previous years, though, there is a great deal of optimism regarding the direction of the team.

In 2025, the White Sox won just 60 games. However, that was a 19-win improvement from 2024. There are those that believe the team is not all that far off from being a contender.

That being said, Chicago needs to answer quite a few questions with their play in 2026, and one of the greatest unknowns regards their biggest off-season addition.

Munetaka Murakami named the Chicago White Sox greatest unknown

That addition, of course, is first baseman Munetaka Murakami, who signed a two-year $34 million deal with the White Sox after a successful eight-year career in Japan. Chicago landing the Japanese slugger took many by surprise, as they did not originally believe that the White Sox would be in the market for him.

However, Murakami’s high strikeout totals in Japan (he once struck out 180 times in one season) gave many Major League teams pause despite his high home run totals.

And it is his propensity to strike out that made him MLB.com‘s biggest unknown for the White Sox:

“Murakami is the biggest impact addition made by the White Sox during this current rebuild and the most accomplished player from the Pacific Rim to ever join the franchise. But there’s still a question as to how his skills will translate when coming to Major League Baseball.

“He not only has to adjust to a new league but a new country. The White Sox are helping forge a smooth transition, and Murakami is a tireless worker with a very regimented routine. If he takes off offensively, the White Sox could follow as a team.”

Indeed, Murakami’s bat has the potential to carry the White Sox to heights that they have not reached for years. The big question, though, is whether or not his game will translate to the Major Leagues. Japan has produced Hall of Fame stars like Ichiro, and future Hall of Fame talent like Shohei Ohtani.

But will Murakami reach that level, or will be end up a disappointment? There is only one way to find out:

Play the games.

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• White Sox make bold roster decision on prospect
• Franchise legend Frank Thomas files lawsuit against White Sox
• Munetaka Murakami signing indicates White Sox intend to compete soon

For More Chicago Sports

Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago White Sox made one of the biggest surprise signings of the MLB off-season when they landed Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami. Indeed, very few, if anyone, believed that the White Sox would be in the market for such a high-profile player.

However, interest in Murakami did not materialize to the level that many expected. It would seem that many teams were hesitant to sign him because of his high strikeout numbers in Japan. As a result, Chicago was able to get him for two years and $34 million.

While his strikeout numbers were high, so were his home run totals. As such, he could provide a much-needed power injection into the White Sox lineup.

Chicago White Sox star Munetaka Murakami predicted to win Rookie of the Year

In his first professional in 2018 season in Japan at 18 years old, Murakami hit .281/.383/.485 with 18 home runs, 72 RBI, and 16 stolen bases. It was just the beginning of what would be a great professional career (up to this point).

Four years later, at the age of 22, Murakami hit .318/.458/.710 with 56 home runs and 134 RBI.

Indeed, his strikeout totals may have been high, but he still hit for a high average and got on base regularly. If he can continue doing so, ESPN believes he could win the American League Rookie of the Year Award:

“Murakami will be a bedrock player in the middle of the White Sox lineup from the season’s outset, and if he stays healthy and mashes 25 to 30 dingers, he’ll get some support.”

Last season, the White Sox won 19 more games than they did in 2024. It was still only 60 wins, but that was much better than 41.

If Murakami can help lead Chicago to another 19-win improvement in 2026, he could win the Rookie of the Year Award quite easily.

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

• White Sox make bold roster decision on prospect
• Franchise legend Frank Thomas files lawsuit against White Sox
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Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago White Sox landing Munetaka Murakami was one of the biggest surprises of the 2026 MLB off-season. After winning just 60 games in 2025, no one thought they would be big players in free agency at all. Yet, they were able to land the biggest free agent coming out of Japan.

To be fair, Murakami’s market did not really materialize the way many expected it to. While he has an impressive power bat, his strikeout totals in Japan were highly concerning to Major League teams. As a result, Chicago was able to land him on a short two-year deal worth $34 million.

But the fact that they were even in the market for Murakami is a great sign for White Sox fans.

The Munetaka Murakami signing hints the Chicago White Sox expect to compete very soon

MLB insiders and analysts from ESPN recently put together an article in which they detailed the off-season moves that were the most shocking. They included the White Sox signing Murakami because, according to them, it signals that Chicago intends to compete for an American League Division title either this year or next:

“Given the lack of power in the Chicago lineup and the need for a first baseman, it’s a worthy roll of the dice for the White Sox. There’s a chance he’s a Kyle Schwarber-like hitter with lots of home runs, walks and strikeouts, and the White Sox get a middle-of-the-order hitter to anchor a young lineup.

“And if the strikeouts pile up? Fine, the two-year commitment means there’s no long-term risk here. It was a surprise move given the White Sox lost 102 games in 2025, but they took advantage of the soft market for Murakami and can be interpreted as a sign the organization thinks it can compete for the division soon — if not 2026, then 2027.”

In eight professional seasons in Japan, Murakami struck out 1,068 times. However, he also had a career on-base percentage of .373 because of his propensity to take walks too.

The fact that he also averaged over 30 home runs a season is why MLB teams were interested in him in the first place. If he can bring that power over to MLB, his strikeouts won’t matter as much.

As ESPN notes, Kyle Schwarber strikes out a great deal, but is also one of the league’s biggest stars because of his power and ability to get on base via walk.

If Murakami ends up being that kind of player, the White Sox will be in a great position.

More Chicago White Sox news from ChiCity Sports

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Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

The post Chicago White Sox: Munetaka Murakami signing heralded as sign team will compete for division crown soon appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago White Sox have had two of the worst seasons in Major League Baseball history in back-to-back years. The good news, though, is that after winning just 41 games in 2024, they improved in 2025 by winning 60 games. Of course, that means they still lost 102 contests, but improvement is improvement.

As the White Sox prepare to start the 2026 MLB season, there is hope that they will, once again, show some improvement. However, their latest win projection for 2026 shows that the improvements fans may want to see are still a year or two away.

Chicago White Sox over/under set at 67.5

Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report recently released his win projections for each Major League team in 2026. And while he does see Chicago taking a step forward, it is not that big of one.

“Make no mistake, the White Sox are still a few years away. But where there wasn’t anything to be excited about two seasons ago, you can start to see the makings of a core with Chase Meidroth, Colson Montgomery, Munetaka Murakami, Kyle Teel and Shane Smith. General manager Chris Getz also added two experienced veterans this offseason with outfielder Austin Hays and reliever Seranthony Domínguez, who can be the adults in the room.

“There’s still quite a bit of pitching development that needs to take place on the South Side, but there finally appears to be some light at the end of the tunnel for the Chi Sox.”

Prediction: 66-96 (Under)

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Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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Chicago White Sox first baseman/third baseman Munetaka Murakami didn’t disappoint in his return from the World Baseball Classic, hitting his first home run of the spring.

More News: Chicago White Sox receive worst-case scenario for Mike Vasil

“It was perfect,” Murakami said through a translator to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand.” “Just perfect.” Murakami added that he feels he’s seeing the ball better compared to when he left for the World Baseball Classic.

“Compared to when I left Arizona, I feel much better as far as conditioning, as well,” Murakami said. “I’m seeing the ball better, I’m swinging better, so I’ll keep that approach up and try to hit as much as possible.”

In five games, Murakami is batting .353 with an OPS of 1.000 and has three RBI.

ムーンに飛ばした！村上選手のスプリングトレーニング初ホームラン！ pic.twitter.com/hPJ9JcIukJ

— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) March 17, 2026

Despite Munetaka Murakami struggling in the WBC, he enjoyed his experience with world-top-tier players

“The main thing is when I look back after the season, I would love to say that that experience in the WBC really helped me out with my accomplishment in the season,” Murakami said. “To be able to participate in a world tournament with world-tier players is just a blessing. For myself to be on a team with incredible athletes and incredible teammates, they were a pleasure to be with.”

In five games playing for Japan, Murakami had a .211 batting average with a .654 OPS, a home run, five RBI, and five strikeouts.

Munetaka Murakami is quickly getting comfortable with the Chicago White Sox

New to Major League Baseball, Murakami said to Feinsand, “I’m getting comfortable every single day,” “I think I’m ready.”

Primarily playing third base while in the NPB, Murakami will likely be the White Sox’s everyday first baseman. He should also get time at DH to get him off his feet, but keep his bat in the lineup.

Hopefully, Murakami’s hitting his first home run will lead to more, as the White Sox need more power in the lineup. Infielders Lenyn Sosa (22) and Colson Montgomery (21) were the team leaders in home runs last season.

The post Chicago White Sox slugger feels ‘ready’ to start the season appeared first on ChiCitySports.

After only seeing him in a few Spring Training games, infielder Munetaka Murakami would head to play for Team Japan in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. The team is looking to repeat as World Baseball Classic champions following its win in the tournament in 2023. Murakami would play first base in the team’s opening game of pool play against Team Chinese Taipei. Let’s take a deeper dive into how he performed in his first game of the tournament.

Chicago White Sox infielder Munetaka Murakami holds his own for Team Japan in its 2026 World Baseball Classic opening game

The White Sox fans were able to get a bit of a feel of what they can expect out of Murakami, as he was playing first base for Team Japan in their opening game of pool play against Team Chinese Taipei. The game would only last seven innings as Japan won 13-0 due to the early termination/mercy rule, but Murakami would hold his own at the plate, going 1 for 3 with a walk and three runs scored.

He would lead off the second inning with a walk and set the groundwork for Team Japan’s 10-run second inning. Murakami would get a second at-bat in the inning and get his first hit of the 2026 World Baseball Classic with an infield single deflected off the pitcher. He would ground into a fielder’s choice in the third inning to reach base for a third time and come around to score for the third time in the game.

Despite playing only third base for the White Sox in Spring Training, he spent all seven innings at first base. The positional versatility will only do well for Chicago’s roster construction. Team Japan will play again tomorrow as they will be the home team against Team Korea in pool play. It will be intriguing to see how Murakami is able to play in the World Baseball Classic.

The post How did Munetaka Murakami do vs Chinese Taipei in World Baseball Classic pool play? appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago White Sox shocked Major League Baseball by coming out as the winners of the Munetaka Murakami sweepstakes this off-season. They signed the Japanese slugger to a two-year $34 million, a significant investment for a team that has struggled to return to competitive levels for a long time.

Of course, signing Murakami was not the only free agent addition that the White Sox made. He was, however, the most notable and arguably could have the biggest impact on the team.

Which begs the question: what if the White Sox struggle in 2026 as they have over the last several years? There is a belief that Murakami could get traded, if that ends up being the case.

Chicago White Sox predicted to trade Munetaka Murakami to the Pittsburgh Pirates

Bleacher Report recently posted an article in which they predicted where the biggest names in trade rumors will end the season. Despite the fact that Murakami has not yet taken an official Major League at bat, he was on the list.

And if the White Sox fail to be competitive in 2026, they believe Chicago will trade the slugger to the Pittsburgh Pirates:

“What happens if Murakami does a pretty good impersonation of “peak Joey Gallo” for four months while things otherwise go every bit as poorly for Chicago as the past three seasons have?

“Goodness knows, these would-be sellers don’t have a whole lot to sell. The White Sox only have eight players on the payroll who aren’t under team control for at least four more years, and most of them are regrettable contracts (Andrew Benintendi, Jordan Hicks) and/or reclamation projects (Erick Fedde, Anthony Kay).

“If they were to make him available, there’s a good chance the Pirates would come calling.

“Pittsburgh upgraded a bunch of spots in its lineup this offseason, adding Marcell Ozuna, Brandon Lowe, Ryan O’Hearn, Jake Mangum, and Jhostynxon Garcia to what had been a hapless offense in 2025. But both corner infield spots remain a considerable weak point, with Jared Triolo the projected starter at third base and Spencer Horwitz probably the choice at first.

“They tried to get Eugenio Suárez late in the offseason, but missed out as he went back to Cincinnati instead. If this much busier than usual winter gets them into the running for October for a change, maybe they trade for a big bat at either corner.”

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Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox have the most Japanese talent outside of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

More News: Colson Montgomery reflects on his 2025 season with the Chicago White Sox

The Cubs have left-hander Shota Imanaga and right-fielder/designated hitter Seiya Suzuki on their roster, while the White Sox recently signed Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami (two years, $34 million). Imanaga, who accepted the qualifying offer ($22.025 million) to return to the Cubs, gave some insight into what type of hitter Murakami will be, while also providing a scouting report for the Toronto Blue Jays’ offseason signing, third baseman Kazuma Okamoto (four years, $60 million).

“So I wouldn’t say, you know, they’re underrating them [Murakami and Okamoto]. I think, you know, with MLB, there’s going to be a lot of changes that are going to happen,” Imanaga said on the “Foul Territory” podcast. “So I think there are factors of that involved. And then regarding, you know, the players like, I mean, they’re superstars in Japan, and they’re fantastic players, and Murakami and Okamoto. I mean, they’ve hit many home runs off of me. So I think in their contract, I mean, you know, some of the home runs they hit off me was it were in there. So I would factor that in.”

Imanaga played and faced Murakami and Okamoto during his time in the NPB, where he spent eight seasons.

The Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox have shown they’re destinations for Japanese talent

Since the Dodgers seemingly have a stranglehold on the Japanese market — signing the likes of two-way star and reigning National League MVP Shohei Ohtani, and right-handers Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki — Chicago quickly became a nice alternative. Former Japanese great right-hander Koji Uehara, outfielder Kosuke Fukudome, and current San Diego Padres right-hander Yu Darvish played in Chicago.

Imanaga and Suzuki are both free agents after this season, and their futures with the Cubs and in Chicago remain uncertain. As for Murakami, even though he signed a two-year deal, general manager Chris Getz could capitalize on his production and trade him at the deadline for players to contribute to the rebuild.

With a pool of Japanese talent increasingly available, and the World Baseball Classic offering a perfect opportunity for others to showcase their talents, the Cubs and White Sox have a good chance to get first cracks at signing these players.

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The Chicago White Sox were able to sign one of the most coveted international free agents on the market this winter. Munetaka Murakami is only 26 years old and has played eight seasons of professional baseball in his native Japan. In those eight years, Murakami hit .273/.394/.550 with 265 home runs and 722 RBI.

As a member of the White Sox, Murakami is going to primarily play first base, a position he was familiar with in Japan. That being said, nearly 75% of his games in Japan were spent playing third base, so he will likely see time there as well in Chicago.

Indeed, Murakami brings an exciting power bat to the offensively-starved White Sox lineup. So much so that he has been named one of 20 rookies to watch in the 2026 MLB season.

Chicago White Sox 1B Munetaka Murakami named rookie to watch in 2026

In his recent article in which he listed 20 rookies to watch in 2026, Jim Bowden of The Athletic, included Murakami, writing:

“Murakami, 26, is also making the jump from Nippon Professional Baseball to MLB. He has legitimate plus power but also had significant contact issues in Japan. That said, despite the high strikeout totals in Japan, he had a career on-base percentage of .394. He’s a below-average defender at third, but should be at least adequate at first, where he is expected to play for Chicago.

“He’s a fascinating player to watch as his comparables from scouts have ranged from Dave Kingman to Joey Gallo to Max Muncy to Luke Voit to Matt Olson to Rafael Devers and even to Kyle Schwarber. He’s probably somewhere in the middle but none of us will know until he shows us.”

The strikeout totals that Bowden references were a reason many MLB teams did not show much interest in signing him. In 2024, for example, Murakami struck out 180 times in

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Follow me on Twitter at @theotherRobin19, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Robin Adams via email at robadams14@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

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The biggest storyline going into this year’s spring training for the Chicago White Sox is the arrival of Japanese slugger Munetaka Murkami.

More news: This Chicago White Sox player is projected to hit 30 HR in 2026

It seem’s that the power hitter is already turning many heads within the White Sox’s coaching staff.

According to Sox beat writer Scott Merkin, the team’s director of hitting gave an update on Murkami that will make many fans very excited.

The White Sox slugger is already impressing many

More news: This Chicago White Sox newcomer is one of the top hitters to watch in spring training

Ryan Fuller told the media that Murakami is “special” and that there’s immediately been a level of confidence he has brought since reporting for spring training.

White Sox director of hitting Ryan Fuller on Munetaka Murakami: "Mune is special, and I think you see immediately there’s a level of confidence here amidst everything being new here."

— Scott Merkin (@scottmerkin) February 16, 2026

The signing of Murakami has brought a massive level of excitement to the Sox’s 2026 campaign.

With the Japanese power hitter being apart of an improved roster, Chicago might have a much more exciting season than everyone expected.

It’s only batting practice, but here are five swings from Munetaka Murakami.
First swing: HR to center
Fourth swing: HR to left.
Fifth swing: HR to right. pic.twitter.com/4UtK1dMbRW

— Chuck Garfien (@ChuckGarfien) February 12, 2026

First look: Munetaka Murakami at Camelback Ranch pic.twitter.com/nuzl8PUM7h

— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) February 8, 2026

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The Chicago White Sox have an intriguing roster as they get prepared for spring training games. With the roster looking to take a next step with a lot of new faces, there are some interesting hitters that the league will be keeping an eye on to see how they look. There are some new faces with the White Sox, so let’s take a look at one that was highlighted heading into Camelback Ranch-Glendale.

Munetaka Murakami is one of the top hitters to keep an eye on during spring training

MLB’s Jared Greenspan highlighted the 15 hitters to watch during spring training, and one of the players he mentions is White Sox first baseman Munetaka Murakami. Below is what Greenspan wrote about why people should be ready to see him in the batter’s box:

“There may not be a more intriguing hitter to watch this spring than Murakami. The 25-year-old Japanese slugger arrives stateside with a reputation of prodigious power and the ability to hit the ball exceptionally hard. Yet a propensity for swing-and-miss and high strikeout totals made his free-agent case rather polarizing. How well will Murakami handle Major League pitching? We’ll get our first glimpse shortly, and you’ll want to catch him before he leaves camp to play for Team Japan in the World Baseball Classic.”

Murakami is a power-hitting infielder who has posted a .951 OPS in his eight seasons in NPB. He is transitioning to becoming a first baseman this season with the White Sox, and will be gone potentially for a few weeks during spring training due to the World Baseball Classic. It is going to be intriguing to see how he progresses with Chicago after signing a two-year, $34 million contract this offseason.

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The Chicago White Sox made a big splash this offseason after signing Japanese standout Munetaka Murakami. The White Sox emerged as the big winners of the race for Nippon Professional Baseball’s two-time Central League MVP.

Murakami became one of the most sought-after free agents because of his stellar play in Japan. He won the Central League Rookie of the Year in 2019 and was named an NPB All-Star that same year. He quickly established himself as one of the best baseball players in the country. Murakami also led the Japanese team to a gold medal during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Chicago White Sox’s Munetaka Murakami gets Caleb Williams welcome 

With Murakami’s arrival, the Windy City rejoices as it welcomes another cornerstone for the city of Chicago.

It was not too long ago when the Chicago Bears drafted Caleb Williams with the first overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. He quickly emerged as one of Chicago’s sports icons as he became the centerpiece of the Bears’ offense. Williams helped the Bears capture their first NFC North title since 2018 and their first playoff win since 2011.

Williams’ rise is somewhat similar to what Michael Jordan did to the Chicago Bulls back in the 1980s. Which is why it’s just right that the White Sox welcome their new player with two iconic Chicago jerseys.

 

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The White Sox gave Murakami a Williams jersey to welcome him to the city. Mune said “Bear Down” and “It’s Chicago” while wearing Williams’ #18.

Not only that, but the White Sox also gifted him the iconic #23 of the Chicago Bulls. Murakami quickly put on Jordan’s jersey and said he plans on wearing it on the way to the game.

The White Sox expect great things from the 6-foot-2, 230-pound slugger from Japan. Murakami heads to the MLB with his 246 home runs for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. He joins a rebuilding White Sox with impressive young talent such as Colson Montgomery. This is why the future is looking bright for the organization.

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The Chicago White Sox are one of the more intriguing teams heading into the 2026 season. They made a lot of moves this offseason in an attempt to better their roster after losing 102 games last season. Chicago seemingly has some young stars that can surprise people this season, but one of them is projected to have a massive season in terms of their power. Let’s take a look at who it is.

Chicago White Sox infielder Munetaka Murakami is projected to hit 30 home runs this season

MLB’s David Adler wrote an article about some of the most outstanding player projections for the 2026 season. According to FanGraphs’ projection, Murakami is projected to have a 118 weighted runs created plus and hit 30 homers in his rookie season with the White Sox. Below is the explanation regarding the projection:

“Murakami was one of the most polarizing free agents of the offseason — the former Tokyo Yakult Swallows superstar was the most feared slugger in Japan, but there are questions about his contact ability. But Steamer thinks Murakami will have a strong debut season for the White Sox, projecting him for a 30 homers and to be a well-above-average hitter overall. His 118 wRC+ means “18% better than league average,” which is a better hitting projection than players like Elly De La Cruz (117), Mike Trout (116) and Christian Yelich (115), as well as his fellow NPB star Kazuma Okamoto (112), who’s joining the Blue Jays this season.”

In eight professional seasons, he has hit 265 career home runs over the course of 1,003 games, with a high of 56 homers in the 2022 season with the Yakult Swallows. He also is not the only hitter in the White Sox lineup that is predicted to have a massive season with their power numbers. It will be intriguing to see how Murakami is able to handle pitching in Major League Baseball.

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The Chicago White Sox have been excited about the debut of third baseman Munetaka Murakami, as he is coming over from Japan this season. With the World Baseball Classic taking place this Spring Training, the rosters are expected to be stacked. Team Japan has named some players to the team earlier today, so let’s take a look at one White Sox player heading to play in this international tournament.

Munetaka Murakami will be playing for Team Japan in the 2026 World Baseball Classic

Team Japan announced 10 players to be part of the 2026 World Baseball Classic roster to bring the roster to 29 players. One of them was Murakami, who is in his first MLB season. In a translated version of his quote, Murakami would discuss joining Team Japan for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. Below is the statement he provided:

“I am truly proud to be able to compete once again as a member of Samurai Japan. The WBC is a special tournament for me. With the emotion and thrill I felt in the last tournament in my heart, I am determined to do my best to help Japan become the world’s best. This is a very important time for me as it is my first year after the transfer [to MLB], but I am truly grateful for the team’s deep understanding and willingness to send me off. I will be beginning my challenges in a new environment, but first and foremost, I will put my soul into every at-bat so I can contribute to Samurai Japan’s victory and prove to the world the greatness of Japanese baseball. The enthusiastic cheers of the Japanese fans will give me strength. I would appreciate your support.”

Murakami is entering his first season in Major League Baseball as he signed a two-year, $30 million contract with the White Sox. He is one of seven MLB players playing for Team Japan this year, including:

• Yuki Matsui (San Diego Padres)
• Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers)
• Yusei Kikuchi (Los Angeles Angels)
• Yoshinubo Yamamoto (Los Angeles Dodgers)
• Kazuma Okamoto (Toronto Blue Jays)
• Seiya Suzuki (Chicago Cubs)

It will be intriguing to see how Murakami plays in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, as it takes place from March 5-18, and he competed in the 2023 version of the tournament. This also means he will not be with the White Sox for his first Spring Training outside of a handful of games to see how he does.

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The Chicago Cubs came into the offseason with some clear and obvious needs– such as pitching and a replacement for outgoing right fielder Kyle Tucker– and a world of roster and budget flexibility around which to make things happen.

More News: Chicago Cubs have Cody Bellinger back on their radar, per report

So far, however, the team hasn’t made the big moves fans had hoped for. Currently, the talent haul for the Cubs consists of free agent relievers Phil Maton and Hoby Milner and backup first baseman Tyler Austin. They were also able to re-sign pitchers Caleb Thielbar and Shota Imanaga on one-year deals.

But there remains ample opportunity for them to still make some major waves this offseason. With only Dansby Swanson and Phil Maton signed beyond 2027, Chicago has clean books. They’re also staring down contract endings after the coming season for a number of their key veteran assets (Ian Happ, Nico Hoerner, Seiya Suzuki, Carson Kelly, Jameson Taillon, Matthew Boyd, Colin Rea, and Imanaga) and facing the reality that they’re going to need to add some cornerstone players to the main roster.

With that in mind, the front office has reportedly targeted free agent third baseman Alex Bregman and Japanese pitching import Tatsuya Imai as valued acquisitions.

But what if Bregman and Imai can’t be had? What’s the plan B?

A plan B to Alex Bregman?

More News: Chicago Cubs: Bad news on Alex Bregman chase…but good news on Kyle Tucker?

Veteran MLB insider Jon Heyman recently touched on a possible backup option should the Cubs find themselves boxed out of the Bregman hunt– Kazuma Okamoto.

In the Monday edition of his Bleacher Report Insider Notebook, Heyman listed the Cubs, alongside the Angels, Pirates, Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Diamondbacks as teams potentially in on the third baseman/first baseman from Japan.

The 29-year-old Okamoto is a 6-time NPB All-Star, but his entrance into the American market got just a fraction of the attention as that of the glitzier and more high-ceiling power-hitting corner infielder Munetaka Murakami, who just signed a two-year, $34 million deal with the Chicago White Sox.

There’s plenty of belief, though, that Okamoto is currently the better all-around player of the two.

Okamoto shines less, rates higher than Murakami

In a 2025 season shortened by a fluke elbow injury, Okamoto batted .322 with 15 home runs and 51 RBIs over 77 total games. In 2024, he hit .280 with 27 home runs and 83 RBIs. All in all, he’s considered a more stable, defensively sound, and well-rounded player than Murakami, but without the younger player’s breakout superstar potential.

He’s also projected to go for a more modest price (around $16 million AAV for 4-5 years).

Heyman’s report is not indicative of anything other than the Cubs possibly kicking the tires on the Japanese star, who will be returned to the NPB if he’s not signed by January 4. It would be front office due diligence to explore anyone and everyone who could possibly align with your team’s needs.

The possible plan

In Chicago’s case, Okamoto could be a backup to Bregman and/or Matt Shaw if Shaw were to be included in a trade for a front-of-rotation starter. His ability to play third, first, and some outfield would make him a solid fit for the team’s needs and he’d still see plenty of playing time as a utility asset.

The Cubs probably wouldn’t sign a $16 million-per-year utility man. But there would be a path to Okamoto if they whiff on Bregman and get presented a too-good-to-turn-down deal involving Shaw. The sticking point is the January 4 signing deadline, though. Lots needs to happen over a short period of time before the team can consider the overseas signing.

At the very least, the Cubs are exploring options. That’s certainly preferable to standing pat and simply hoping for the best.

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The Chicago White Sox improved their record by 19 games in 2025 (60-102) after coming off a historically awful season in 2024 (41-121), and they will continue to get better in 2026.

More News: Chicago White Sox ‘engaged’ in talks with Japanese slugger: Insider

The White Sox have a young core forming heading into 2026, led by shortstop Colson Montgomery, but need to supplement him and the others with veterans and outside talent from the organization to upgrade their lineup and roster and make them more competitive. Not spending big on the free agent market, the White Sox turned toward the Japanese market, with ESPN’s Jeff Passan reporting that the White Sox and third/first baseman Munetaka Murakami are finalizing a two-year contract worth $34 million.

Murakami’s posting window to sign with a major league club would have ended 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). However, Murakami does strike out a ton, striking out over 180 times in two seasons (2019 & 2024).

Overall, in 2025, Murakami batted .286 with an OPS of 1.051 (career high) and hit 24 home runs while driving in 52 RBI.

BREAKING: Third baseman Munetaka Murakami and the Chicago White Sox are in agreement on a two-year, $34 million contract, sources tell ESPN. Murakami, 25, is the single-season home run champion in Japan and will bring his prodigious power to a rebuilding White Sox team.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 21, 2025

In the meantime, the White Sox make their biggest free agent move in years. Murakami, Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, Edgar Quero, Miguel Vargas — Chicago has a lot of young, interesting talent. And the upside for Murakami is enormous. A savvy move to get two prime years.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) December 21, 2025

Munetaka Murakami boosts the Chicago White Sox lineup and gives them the power hitter they lack

Despite being a strikeout king, adding Murakami would be beneficial for manager Will Venable to have in his lineup. The White Sox’s leader in home runs in 2025 was second baseman Lenyn Sosa, who nearly tripled his home run total in 2025 (22) from 2024 (eight), so adding Murakami would give the Sox someone with 30+ home run potential and the White Sox a nice triple threat of Montgomery, Sosa, and Murakami.

The White Sox have an opening at first base, and with Murakami’s joining the club, he’ll likely get the bulk of the starting reps to play on the right side of the infield. In their history, the White Sox’s most notable Japanese player was infielder Tadahito Iguchi. Iguchi helped the White Sox win the 2005 World Series.

Now that he’s signed, 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.

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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.

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The Chicago White Sox are not exactly one of the top teams in baseball when it comes to offseason destinations, this even though they play in such a large market.

Let’s face it: the White Sox live in the shadow of the Cubs, which is pretty ironic considering the Cubs haven’t exactly been spending money themselves in recent years.

Nevertheless, the White Sox are trying to rebound after an absolutely brutal stretch the last several seasons, and apparently, ESPN’s David Schoenfield feels that Chicago will actually make a major splash this winter.

In a recent piece where Schoenfield predicted landing spots for some of the top remaining free agents, he tabbed the White Sox for Japanese corner infielder Munetaka Murakami.

“The White Sox have money to spend — their current estimated payroll is just $68 million and that includes $20 million for Luis Robert Jr., who might be traded,” Schoenfield wrote. “They have a desperate need for power and Murakami fits at either third or first, depending on where Miguel Vargas ends up. This would be a nice roll of the dice for a White Sox team that looks to be on the rise.”

Schoenfield is projecting that Murakami will bag a five-year, $80 million contract.

The catch is that Murakami has to sign by Dec. 22, so if Chicago is going to do this, it needs to act quickly.

Could the Chicago White Sox actually stun baseball with this move?

I don’t think anyone had the White Sox landing a marquee free agent on their bingo card heading into the hot stove, so it would be one bucket of ice water if Chicago were able to pry Murakami away from teams like the Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners.

Murakami began his professional career with the Yakult Sparrows in 2018 and has spent his entire tenure in Japan with the club. He missed extensive time with an oblique injury this past season, but still managed to slash .286/.392/.659 with 24 home runs and 52 RBI over 610 plate appearances.

The “Japanese Babe Ruth,” or so he is called, also smashed 56 homers back in 2022 and has homered 265 times across 1,003 games, so he has certainly flashed prodigious power. Of course, whether or not that actually translates to the MLB remains to be seen, but there is no doubting that he is an enticing slugger.

Still just 25 years old, Murakami could prove to be an integral piece in Chicago for years to come.

We’ll see if the White Sox can get it done.

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The Chicago White Sox are in a position where they need to begin showing success on the field. After a 60-102 record in 2025, the team has to improve. There are some free agents they can wind up signing, and one of them may be a player you may never think of as a fit. Let’s take a closer look as to which major free agent could be joining the South Side of Chicago during the offseason.

Munetaka Murakami could be the next Chicago White Sox player?

While discussing Murakami’s potential suitors in free agency on MLB Network Radio, former general manager Jim Duquette threw out the idea of the White Sox signing him.

“The White Sox are a team on the rise… and they have some money.”

This would certainly be an intriguing fit as they do not have many players with a lot of experience. Chicago typically does not sign players out of Japan, with the last one being Tadahito Iguchi ahead of the 2005 season. With the need to sign a key player and a chance for Murakami to have a softer landing spot, this would be an intriguing position for the free agent. Murakami had an outstanding season in 2025 as he had a 1.051 OPS with 24 homers, 52 RBI, and five stolen bases in 69 games.

Murakami has a deadline of his own as his posting window expires on Dec. 22 at 5 p.m. ET. If he does not sign with a MLB team by that point, he will return to the Tokyo Yakult Swallows. Chicago could have a massive left-handed bat added into their lineup with Murakami in the middle of their order. The team has Miguel Vargas expected to play third base while Curtis Mead is on the bench as the backup infielder. If Chicago winds up landing him, it would be a massive surprise that could send shockwaves throughout Major League Baseball.

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The Chicago Cubs have a surprising amount of heavy lifting to do this offseason when it comes to filling roster holes. One would think that a team that made it to Game Five of the NLDS would probably just need a tweak or two before going at it again the following season.

More News: Chicago Cubs and Shota Imanaga might still reunite after all

But the Cubs will be in need of a lot as they head into 2026.

Their bullpen needs a full rebuild, as the only two relievers on their NLDS roster slated to remain a Cub in 2026 are Daniel Palencia and Ben Brown. The starting rotation is also a bit unsettled as the team declined their option on lefty Shota Imanaga and are staring down possible regression from the injury-prone Matthew Boyd and Cade Horton.

There’s also the hole to fill in right field when free agent four-time All-Star Kyle Tucker moves on to his more free-spending new home.

Then, there’s the fact that Nico Hoerner, Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, Carson Kelly, Jameson Taillon, and Boyd are all set to become free agents after the coming season.

With so much uncertainty on an otherwise playoff-level roster, the pressure is on Jed Hoyer and the Cubs’ front office to make some long-term acquisitions to shore up a team with, as things look now, just a one-year window to do big things.

Looking to Japan– and Munetaka Murakami– for answers

More News: Chicago Cubs linked to ace-level starting pitching at GM meetings

There’s some thought that the Cubs may dip once again into the Japanese market for a solution to their issues, looking for quality young players who can be had for a reasonable price.

One of their rumored targets is slugger Munetaka Murakami of the Yakult Swallows, who’s entry into MLB was confirmed late last week.

Signing him would be a huge, monumental, devastating mistake.

First, though, there’s the case for Chicago possibly targeting him.

The case for a Murakami-Chicago Cubs union

Murakami will only be 26 on opening day and he’s regarded as one of the elite power hitters in the NPB. He’s hit 265 home runs and 170 doubles in 1,003 games over parts of 8 seasons. Metrics guys will talk up his 90th percentile exit velocity, which would place him fifth in the MLB in that category, and his remarkable hard-hit rate, which would place him above anyone in the majors.

On paper, the lefty power-bat would make sense as an incoming third baseman.

As Fox Sports recently observed:

“With Tucker theoretically gone, Murakami would keep the balance of left-handed vs. right-handed hitters in Chicago’s order intact and add even more upside to an offense primarily made up of players in its prime. Batting in an offense that’s headlined by Michael Busch, Seiya Suzuki, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Ian Happ, among others, Murakami doesn’t have to be an All-Star-caliber hitter from the jump.”

The greater case AGAINST Murakami

The reality, though, is that Murakami may turn out to be a spectacular all-around fail.

As noted by New York Mets podcaster and analyst James Schiano, Murakami “had a .095 batting average against pitches 93 MPH or harder last season in NPB.”

In MLB, the average pitch velocity is 94.2 MPH.

He also struggles with secondary pitches.

Per David Adler of MLB.com:

“Murakami swung and missed at nearly half of the offspeed pitches he swung at vs. righties, and nearly two thirds of the breaking pitches he swung at vs. lefties.”

Some Murakami proponents insist that he can make technical adjustments to facilitate getting around on big league pitching and that, at his young age, he’ll adapt. But he has a career 25.2% strikeout rate in the Japanese league with that number trending overall upward over the last three seasons. To add some perspective, a 25.2% K rate would place him somewhere between Kyle Schwarber and Eugenio Suarez in that category– but he’s whiffing against generally lesser, softer-tossing Japanese pitching. Supporters point to the fact that Shohei Ohtani had similar contact metrics as a 22-year-old before making his way to the States, but Ohtani is clearly a once-in-a-lifetime talent.

Then, there’s the issue of defense, where Murakami is regarded as somewhat clumsy at third with a subpar arm. Projections place him as, ultimately, a below-average defensive first baseman who will quickly be moved over to full-time DH.

The Cubs don’t need any of the headaches Murakami would bring, especially not on a contract expected to be somewhere between 5-years, $80 million (ESPN) and 8-years, $158.5 million (The Athletic).

There’s no doubt that Murakami will hit some home runs at the major league level and make some pitchers pay dearly for mistakes. But the Cubs don’t need all of the other pitfalls involved in bringing him aboard.

The post Why the Chicago Cubs need to stay far away from incoming Japanese free agent star appeared first on ChiCitySports.

The Chicago Cubs have some work to do this offseason.

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First and foremost, they’ll most likely have to find a way to replace an outgoing Kyle Tucker as the four-time All-Star right fielder is expected to move on to a more free-spending team via free agency.

The Cubs will also have to rebuild almost an entire bullpen as six of the eight relievers on their NLDS roster will probably be gone next year via free agency or, in the case of Andrew Kittredge, by rejected team option.

There will need to be some tinkering and fortifying of the starting rotation as well, with several question marks related to health and consistency casting doubt on the entire staff.

Chicago Cubs might look to Japan, Murakami

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With need staring them in the face and an unwillingness to dig deep into their revenue to fill holes at full free agent market value, Cubs president Jed Hoyer and the front office could very well look to Japan for answers this winter.

In the recent past, the Cubs were able to pick up Shota Imanaga and Seiya Suzuki on creative, comparatively team-friendly deals that are right up Chicago’s alley in terms of contract preferences.

The biggest Japanese name available this offseason will be third baseman/first baseman Munetaka Murakami.

The 25-year-old has a wealth of pro ball experience with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows despite his young age. Already an 8-year pro with 265 home runs, the left-handed slugger has consistently been a productive offensive powerhouse.

Despite having arthroscopic elbow surgery and suffering through an oblique injury last season, he still managed to hit 24 home runs in 69 games, with an OPS of 1.051.

Murakami is below-average with the glove at third and just barely adequate at first, but he could be handed the third base gig until eventually replacing a possibly outgoing Suzuki, who is eligible for free agency after next season, at DH. Bringing him aboard would also give the Cubs the opportunity to shop Matt Shaw in a package deal for a controllable front-half-of-rotation starting pitcher.

A high-end Japanese starter to consider

However, if the goal is a front-three starting pitcher, the Cubs could cut the workarounds and go straight at 27-year-old righty Tatsuya Imai.

The nine-year veteran has been one of the top pitching stars in the Japanese league over the last several seasons, posting a sub-2.50 ERA as a starter every year since 2022. Last year, he had a career year with a 1.92 ERA over 24 games and 163.2 innings. Versatile and hard-throwing, Imai is likely to be made available to MLB teams this offseason.

Neither Murakami nor Imai will come cheap, however. Former MLB exec and current MLB insider for The Athletic, Jim Bowden, projects Murakami to bag a 6-year, $160 million contract while Imai is expected to land a deal worth about $154 million over seven years. Both the length of contract as well as the overall payout might rule the Cubs out of the hunt.

Bringing Americans back home?

On the more economical side of a Japanese talent hunt, though, the Cubs might end up pursuing a pair of American pitchers who found success overseas but would like to come back home.

Lefty swing man Anthony Kay was claimed off waivers by the Cubs in 2022, but DFA’d the following year. He eventually found his way to Japan where he re-tooled, refocused, and found success with the Yokohama DeNA BayStars as a starter. Last season, he posted a remarkable 1.74 ERA in 155 innings over 24 starts.

Although the 30-year-old is not a strikeout pitcher by any stretch of the imagination, his groundball rate of greater than 50% makes him a great fit for the Cubs and their stellar infield defense. Perhaps just as important to a bottom line-minded Cubs front office, he might be signed on the cheap to a one-year deal as a way to prove his MLB chops before heading off to free agency once again at the end of 2026. The Cubs have proven themselves to be an ideal spot for a pitcher looking to rehab his reputation.

Similarly, 30-year-old southpaw Foster Griffin may be looking to get back to America after three successful seasons with the Yumiori Giants in Japan. Also a groundball pitcher, the former Kansas City Royals top prospect posted a 1.52 ERA in 89 innings over 17 starts last season. Like Kay, he might also be open to an economical one-year deal as a way to reintroduce himself to the US scene.

For a team seemingly fixated on working around big-money free agent deals, Japan could offer a favorable side market for a couple of 2026 pickups. Time will tell whether the Cubs will once again dip into the Japanese league talent pool.

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