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In a major move for their overhauling roster, the South Side team have signed Japanese star Munetaka Murakami, agreeing to a two-year contract for the power-hitting player.

Contract Details and Added Benefits

The contract features a $1 million signing bonus, to be paid within 30 days, alongside compensation of $16M for the next season and $17M for the following year.

Importantly, Murakami's compensation is subject to escalators based on performance achievements in 2026:

• $1 million for earning the league MVP award.
• $500,000 for placing as runner-up or in third place in MVP voting.
• $250K for finishing between fourth and tenth.
• $250,000 for being named the Rookie of the Year honor.

The contract includes that he cannot be assigned to the minors without his approval and grants him a unrestricted player at the conclusion of the deal. Additional perks include a dedicated interpreter and flight reimbursement between the U.S. and Japan.

Posting Fee and Team Legacy

As part of the transaction, Chicago is obligated to provide a compensation payment of roughly $6.58 million to the Swallows, Murakami's longtime team in Japan's Central League. The Swallows would also receive a additional payment of any triggered salary escalators.

Murakami is set to become the fourth player from Japan to represent the South Siders, following reliever Shingo Takatsu (2004-05), second baseman Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07), and outfielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012). Notably, Takatsu previously coached Murakami during their time in Japan.

On-Field Accomplishments

Murakami, a lefty bat who will turn 26 soon, bolsters a promising core of hitters in Chicago that contains prospects like Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, and Chase Meidroth. The White Sox are coming off a difficult season, finishing at the bottom in the AL Central but representing a notable improvement from the prior campaign.

Having earned Most Valuable Player honors in '21 and '22, Murakami made history with a monumental 2022 season where he belted 56 HRs, eclipsing the single-season record for a player in Japan formerly held by icon Sadaharu Oh. That performance also made him the youngest player ever to achieve Japan's coveted Triple Crown.

His 2023 season was limited to just 56 appearances due to an muscle issue. Even with recording 64 times, he still managed .273 with 22 HRs and 47 runs batted in.

Over his career tenure with the Yakult club, Murakami has accumulated a .270 lifetime batting average with 246 HRs, 647 RBI, and nearly 1,000 strikeouts in 892 games. Early in his career playing primarily at first base, he has more recently played to third base.

Global Stage Success

Murakami's clutch hitting were on center stage during the 2023 World Baseball Classic. In the penultimate game against Mexico, he hit a victory-sealing two-base hit that brought home Shohei Ohtani and Masataka Yoshida for a dramatic 6-5 victory. The next night in the championship game against the Team USA, he slugged a game-tying home run in the early innings, setting the stage for Japan's 3-2 title triumph.

The new White Sox addition is slated to be formally introduced at a media availability on Monday.