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In a major move for their overhauling roster, the South Side team have signed infielder Munetaka Murakami, finalizing a $34 million contract with the high-profile player.

Contract Details and Added Benefits

The agreement grants a seven-figure signing bonus, payable within 30 days, combined with annual pay of sixteen million for the 2026 season and seventeen million for the 2027 year.

Additionally, Murakami's 2027 salary is subject to escalators based on accolade achievements in 2026:

• An additional $1M for being named the Most Valuable Player award.
• $500,000 for finishing in the top three in MVP voting.
• A quarter-million for finishing between fourth and tenth.
• An identical bonus for being named the ROY honor.

The agreement provides that he cannot be sent to the minors without his consent and grants him a free agent at the termination of the term. Further benefits include a dedicated interpreter and airfare between Japan and the U.S..

Posting Fee and Historical Context

As part of the signing, Chicago owes a transfer fee of over $6.5 million to the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, Murakami's previous team in Japan's Central League. The Yakult organization would also receive a supplemental fee of fifteen percent triggered salary escalators.

Murakami will become the fourth-ever Japanese-born to suit up for the South Siders, following reliever Shingo Takatsu (2004-05), infielder Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07), and fielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012). Notably, Takatsu previously coached Murakami back in Japan.

Career Highlights

Murakami, a left-side batter who turns 26 on February 2nd, enters a young group of offensive players in Chicago that contains prospects like Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, and Chase Meidroth. The team are finished with a 60-102 season, finishing last in the division but representing a significant improvement from the prior campaign.

The winner of back-to-back Most Valuable Player honors in '21 and '22, Murakami is famous for a historic 2022 season where he launched 56 HRs, surpassing the longstanding record for a Japanese-born player previously held by icon Sadaharu Oh. That performance also made him the youngest player ever to secure Japan's coveted Triple Crown.

His most recent NPB campaign was shortened to 56 games due to an oblique injury. Despite recording often, he still managed .273 with 22 HRs and 47 runs batted in.

Over his eight-season tenure with the Swallows, Murakami has accumulated a .270 lifetime batting average with 246 HRs, 647 runs batted in, and 977 strikeouts in nearly 900 games. Initially playing mostly at first, he has since transitioned to third.

Global Stage Success

Murakami's heroics were on full display during the last World Baseball Classic. In the penultimate game against Mexico, he hit a victory-sealing two-base hit that brought home teammates for a come-from-behind 6-5 victory. The next night in the title match against the Team USA, he blasted a equalizing home run in the second inning, helping Japan's eventual championship win.

The power hitter is slated to be officially presented at a press conference on Monday.