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In a significant move for their retooling roster, the American League club have welcomed slugger Munetaka Murakami, agreeing to a two-year contract for the high-profile player.

Deal Structure and Added Benefits

The contract grants a substantial signing bonus, issued within 30 days, in addition to annual pay of $16M for the upcoming season and $17 million for the following year.

Additionally, Murakami's final-year pay may grow based on performance achievements in 2026:

• A seven-figure bonus for winning the Most Valuable Player award.
• $500K for finishing in the top three in MVP voting.
• $250,000 for finishing fourth through 10th.
• $250,000 for winning the Rookie of the Year honor.

His deal also stipulates that he cannot be sent to the minors without his permission and makes him a unrestricted player at the end of the term. Further benefits include a club-supplied interpreter and airfare between his home country and the States.

Transfer Payment and Franchise History

As part of the signing, Chicago is obligated to provide a compensation payment of over $6.5 million to the Yakult Swallows, Murakami's former team in Japan's professional league. The Swallows are also entitled to a 15% cut of 15% triggered salary escalators.

Murakami joins the ranks as the fourth Japanese-born to represent the White Sox, joining reliever Shingo Takatsu (2004-05), infielder Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07), and fielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012). Interestingly, Takatsu previously coached Murakami during their time in Japan.

Player Profile

Murakami, a left-side batter who turns 26 soon, enters a young lineup in Chicago that also features prospects like Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, and Chase Meidroth. The White Sox are finished with a last-place season, finishing last in the division but showing a 19-game improvement from the year before campaign.

Having earned league MVP honors in 2021 and 2022, Murakami is renowned for a monumental 2022 season where he launched 56 home runs, eclipsing the longstanding record for a player in Japan previously held by icon Sadaharu Oh. That year also made him the most youthful hitter ever to secure Japan's prestigious Triple Crown.

His 2023 season was limited to 56 games due to an oblique injury. Despite striking out 64 Ks, he hit .273 with 22 homers and 47 RBIs.

Over his eight-season tenure with the Yakult club, Murakami has posted a .270 lifetime batting average with 246 HRs, 647 RBIs, and nearly 1,000 strikeouts in nearly 900 games. He started playing primarily at first, he has since transitioned to third base.

International Pedigree

Murakami's big-game performance were on full display during the 2023 World Baseball Classic. In the semifinal against Mexico, he drove in a walk-off two-base hit that brought home Shohei Ohtani and Masataka Yoshida for a dramatic 6-5 victory. The next night in the title match against the Team USA, he slugged a tying homer in the second inning, helping Japan's subsequent 3-2 victory.

The lefty slugger is scheduled to be officially presented at a press conference on the coming Monday.