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In a significant move for their retooling roster, the Chicago White Sox have officially added Japanese star Munetaka Murakami, completing a two-year contract for the power-hitting player.

Financial Terms and Player Perks

The contract grants a seven-figure signing bonus, issued within 30 days, combined with salaries of sixteen million for the 2026 season and $17M for the 2027 year.

Importantly, Murakami's compensation may grow based on accolade achievements in 2026:

• A seven-figure bonus for winning the league MVP award.
• $500K for placing second or third in MVP voting.
• $250K for placing fourth through 10th.
• $250,000 for earning the Rookie of the Year honor.

His deal includes that he cannot be assigned to the minors without his permission and grants him a free agent at the end of the deal. Additional perks include a dedicated interpreter and airfare between the U.S. and Japan.

Compensation and Team Legacy

As part of the acquisition, Chicago owes a compensation payment of over $6.5 million to the Swallows, Murakami's previous team in Japan's professional league. The Japanese club would also receive a supplemental fee of 15% triggered salary escalators.

Murakami is set to become the fourth-ever player from Japan to suit up for the South Siders, following pitcher Shingo Takatsu (2004-05), infielder Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07), and outfielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012). Interestingly, Takatsu once managed Murakami while both were in Japan.

Career Highlights

Murakami, a left-side batter who will turn 26 in February, bolsters a emerging core of hitters in Chicago that contains prospects like Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, and Chase Meidroth. The White Sox are coming off a last-place season, placing at the bottom in the AL Central but showing a 19-game improvement from the year before campaign.

The winner of back-to-back league MVP honors in 2021 and 2022, Murakami is famous for a monumental 2022 season where he hit 56 home runs, eclipsing the single-season record for a NPB hitter previously held by legend Sadaharu Oh. That performance also made him the youngest player ever to achieve Japan's elusive batting Triple Crown.

His most recent NPB campaign was shortened to just 56 appearances due to an muscle issue. Despite fanning 64 times, he hit .273 with 22 homers and 47 RBIs.

Over his eight-year tenure with the Yakult club, Murakami has accumulated a .270 career batting average with 246 home runs, 647 RBIs, and 977 Ks in 892 games. Initially playing mostly at first base, he has more recently played to third.

International Pedigree

Murakami's clutch hitting were on center stage during the last World Baseball Classic. In the penultimate game against Mexico, he hit a walk-off double that drove in two fellow Japanese stars for a dramatic 6-5 victory. The following day in the championship game against the Team USA, he hit a game-tying shot in the early innings, paving the way for Japan's 3-2 3-2 victory.

The new White Sox addition is scheduled to be officially presented at a introductory event on Monday.