Report: Munetaka Murakami To Sign With White Sox

Japanese first baseman Munetaka Murakami has reportedly signed with the Chicago White Sox. First reported by Japan’s MLB.com outlet, Murakami is signing for two years and $34 million. ESPN’s Jeff Passan confirmed that Murakami will be playing first base for the rebuilding White Sox.

Murakami has put up sensational numbers in the Japanese league. Across eight NPB seasons he has slashed .270/.394/.557 (.951 OPS) with 246 homers and 647 RBIs. In his most recent season, the 25-year-old posted a 1.043 OPS across 187 at-bats. He also holds the single-season home run record in Japan.

A lot was made about Murakami’s ability to hit velocity and issues with swing-and-misses. Those concerns seem to have held true as the now former Yakult Swallow netted a deal much smaller than projected. MLB Trade Rumors projected an eight-year, $180 million deal. Instead, he only got two years and $17 million annually.

Murakami will seemingly anchor a White Sox lineup that a lot of young, albeit unproven, young talent in Chase Meidroth, Kyle Teel, Colson Montgomery, Miguel Vargas, and Edgar Quero.

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