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In a notable move for their rebuilding roster, the South Side team have welcomed slugger Munetaka Murakami, completing a two-year contract for the power-hitting player.

Financial Terms and Added Benefits

The agreement includes a seven-figure signing bonus, to be paid within 30 days, combined with compensation of $16 million for the 2026 season and seventeen million for the final year.

Additionally, Murakami's final-year pay can increase based on accolade achievements in 2026:

• An additional $1M for earning the league MVP award.
• $500,000 for finishing second or third in MVP voting.
• $250,000 for finishing fourth through 10th.
• Another $250,000 for winning the ROY honor.

His deal also stipulates that he will not be optioned to the farm system without his permission and grants him a unrestricted player at the end of the contract. Further benefits include a dedicated interpreter and airfare between his home country and the States.

Posting Fee and Historical Context

As part of the acquisition, Chicago owes a transfer fee of $6,575,000 to the Swallows, Murakami's longtime team in Japan's Central League. The Japanese club are also entitled to a supplemental fee of any triggered incentive payments.

Murakami joins the ranks as the fourth player from Japan to suit up for the Chicago franchise, in the footsteps of pitcher Shingo Takatsu (2004-05), second baseman Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07), and fielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012). Notably, Takatsu once managed Murakami while both were in Japan.

Player Profile

Murakami, a left-handed hitter who turns 26 soon, joins a emerging lineup in Chicago that contains prospects like Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, and Chase Meidroth. The team are coming off a difficult season, placing last in the American League Central but showing a 19-game improvement from the previous campaign.

The winner of back-to-back league MVP honors in consecutive seasons, Murakami is famous for a record-breaking 2022 season where he hit 56 home runs, breaking the single-season record for a player in Japan formerly held by icon Sadaharu Oh. That year also made him the youngest player ever to secure Japan's elusive batting Triple Crown.

His 2023 season was curtailed to just 56 appearances due to an muscle issue. Even with striking out 64 Ks, he still managed .273 with 22 homers and 47 RBIs.

Over his eight-year tenure with the Yakult club, Murakami has accumulated a .270 batting average with 246 homers, 647 RBIs, and 977 strikeouts in nearly 900 games. Early in his career playing primarily at first base, he has since transitioned to third base.

International Pedigree

Murakami's clutch hitting were on full display during the last World Baseball Classic. In the penultimate game against Mexico, he delivered a walk-off two-base hit that drove in Shohei Ohtani and Masataka Yoshida for a thrilling 6-5 victory. The following day in the championship game against the United States, he slugged a equalizing homer in the early innings, setting the stage for Japan's 3-2 championship win.

The power hitter is slated to be unveiled at a media availability on Monday.