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In a major move for their overhauling roster, the Chicago White Sox have welcomed slugger Munetaka Murakami, agreeing to a two-year contract with the power-hitting player.

Deal Structure and Player Perks

The contract grants a $1 million signing bonus, to be paid within 30 days, in addition to compensation of $16M for the 2026 season and $17 million for the following year.

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

• A seven-figure bonus for earning the league MVP award.
• Half a million dollars for finishing second or third in MVP voting.
• $250,000 for finishing fourth through 10th.
• Another $250,000 for earning the top rookie honor.

The contract also stipulates that he cannot be sent to the minor leagues without his consent and grants him a unrestricted player at the termination of the deal. Additional perks include a club-supplied interpreter and airfare between Japan and the U.S..

Compensation and Franchise History

As part of the transaction, Chicago owes a compensation payment of $6,575,000 to the Swallows, Murakami's former team in Japan's NPB. The Japanese club are also entitled to a 15% cut of fifteen percent triggered incentive payments.

Murakami joins the ranks as the fourth Japanese to suit up for the Chicago franchise, in the footsteps of pitcher Shingo Takatsu (2004-05), second baseman Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07), and outfielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012). Interestingly, Takatsu previously coached Murakami during their time in Japan.

Player Profile

Murakami, a left-handed hitter who turns 26 on February 2nd, bolsters a promising core of hitters in Chicago that contains prospects like Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, and Chase Meidroth. The team are coming off a last-place season, placing at the bottom in the AL Central but representing a 19-game improvement from the previous campaign.

The winner of back-to-back Central League MVP honors in 2021 and 2022, Murakami made history with a record-breaking 2022 season where he hit 56 homers, surpassing the longstanding record for a player in Japan formerly held by icon Sadaharu Oh. That performance also made him the most youthful hitter ever to win Japan's elusive batting Triple Crown.

His 2023 season was shortened to a partial schedule due to an side strain. Even with fanning 64 times, he still managed .273 with 22 home runs and 47 driven in.

Over his career tenure with the Swallows, Murakami has compiled a .270 career batting average with 246 homers, 647 runs batted in, and 977 strikeouts in nearly 900 games. He started playing primarily at first base, he has spent most of his time to third base.

Global Stage Success

Murakami's heroics were on center stage during the 2023 WBC. In the penultimate game against Mexico, he hit a walk-off double that drove in teammates for a come-from-behind 6-5 win. The very next day in the final against the Team USA, he blasted a game-tying home run in the second inning, setting the stage for Japan's subsequent 3-2 victory.

The power hitter is slated to be unveiled at a press conference on the coming Monday.