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In a notable move for their rebuilding roster, the South Side team have officially added infielder Munetaka Murakami, completing a $34 million contract bringing in the high-profile player.

Deal Structure and Player Perks

The deal includes a seven-figure 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.

Notably, Murakami's compensation is subject to escalators based on accolade achievements in 2026:

• An additional $1M for being named the MVP award.
• $500K for finishing as runner-up or in third place in MVP voting.
• A quarter-million for ranking between fourth and tenth.
• $250,000 for winning the top rookie honor.

The contract also stipulates that he cannot be sent to the minors without his permission and makes him a free agent at the conclusion of the contract. Additional perks include a team-provided interpreter and airfare between his home country and the States.

Compensation and Team Legacy

As part of the transaction, Chicago owes a compensation payment of over $6.5 million to the Swallows, Murakami's previous team in Japan's Central League. The Japanese club are also entitled to a additional payment of 15% triggered salary escalators.

Murakami joins the ranks as the fourth Japanese-born to suit up for the South Siders, in the footsteps of reliever Shingo Takatsu (2004-05), second baseman Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07), and fielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012). Of note, Takatsu once managed Murakami during their time in Japan.

Career Highlights

Murakami, a left-handed hitter who will turn 26 on February 2nd, bolsters a promising core of hitters in Chicago that includes prospects like Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, and Chase Meidroth. The team are finished with a difficult season, finishing last in the AL Central but showing a significant improvement from the prior campaign.

A two-time Most Valuable Player honors in '21 and '22, Murakami made history with a record-breaking 2022 season where he belted 56 homers, surpassing the single-season record for a Japanese-born player formerly held by icon Sadaharu Oh. That performance also made him the youngest player ever to achieve Japan's coveted batting Triple Crown.

His last year was curtailed to a partial schedule due to an side strain. Even with recording often, he still managed .273 with 22 home runs and 47 RBIs.

Over his eight-season tenure with the Yakult club, Murakami has posted a .270 lifetime batting average with 246 HRs, 647 runs batted in, and nearly 1,000 strikeouts in 892 games. He started playing mainly at first, 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 semi-final against Mexico, he delivered a walk-off double that drove in Shohei Ohtani and Masataka Yoshida for a dramatic 6-5 win. The following day in the final against the United States, he hit a equalizing homer in the early innings, paving the way for Japan's eventual title triumph.

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