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In a notable move for their retooling roster, the Chicago White Sox have signed infielder Munetaka Murakami, agreeing to a two-year contract with the high-profile player.

Deal Structure and Added Benefits

The contract includes a seven-figure signing bonus, issued within 30 days, in addition to salaries of $16M for the 2026 season and $17M for the following year.

Importantly, Murakami's 2027 salary may grow based on accolade achievements in 2026:

• A seven-figure bonus for earning the MVP award.
• $500,000 for placing in the top three in MVP voting.
• $250K for ranking between fourth and tenth.
• $250,000 for earning the top rookie honor.

The contract also stipulates that he cannot be assigned to the minors without his approval and grants him a unrestricted player at the end of the contract. Further benefits include a team-provided interpreter and airfare between Japan and the U.S..

Compensation and Historical Context

As part of the signing, Chicago must pay a posting fee of $6,575,000 to the Yakult Swallows, Murakami's longtime team in Japan's NPB. The Swallows are also entitled to a supplemental fee of fifteen percent triggered salary escalators.

Murakami is set to become the fourth Japanese to represent the South Siders, joining reliever Shingo Takatsu (2004-05), infielder Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07), and outfielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012). Notably, Takatsu previously coached Murakami back in Japan.

Career Highlights

Murakami, a left-side batter who turns 26 in February, joins a emerging core of hitters in Chicago that also features prospects like Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, and Chase Meidroth. The club are finished with a difficult season, placing at the bottom in the AL Central but showing a notable improvement from the prior campaign.

The winner of back-to-back league MVP honors in consecutive seasons, Murakami is famous for a monumental 2022 season where he belted 56 home runs, eclipsing the longstanding record for a player in Japan formerly held by legend Sadaharu Oh. That feat also made him the youngest player ever to win Japan's elusive batting Triple Crown.

His 2023 season was shortened to a partial schedule due to an side strain. Despite fanning 64 times, he still managed .273 with 22 HRs and 47 runs batted in.

Over his career tenure with the Yakult club, Murakami has compiled a .270 career batting average with 246 home runs, 647 RBI, and 977 Ks in nearly 900 games. Early in his career playing mainly at first base, he has since transitioned to the hot corner.

WBC Heroics

Murakami's heroics were on global view during the 2023 World Baseball Classic. In the penultimate game against Mexico, he delivered a victory-sealing double that scored Shohei Ohtani and Masataka Yoshida for a thrilling one-run win. The next night in the final against the Team USA, he hit a equalizing shot in the early innings, paving the way for Japan's subsequent championship win.

The lefty slugger is set to be formally introduced at a press conference on the coming Monday.