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In a major move for their overhauling roster, the Chicago White Sox have welcomed Japanese star Munetaka Murakami, agreeing to a two-year contract with the high-profile player.

Contract Details and Player Perks

The deal features a substantial signing bonus, to be paid within 30 days, in addition to salaries of $16M for the upcoming season and $17 million for the 2027 year.

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

• $1 million for earning the Most Valuable Player award.
• $500K for finishing in the top three in MVP voting.
• $250K for placing between fourth and tenth.
• $250,000 for being named the top rookie honor.

The agreement also stipulates that he will not be optioned to the minor leagues without his consent and grants him a free agent at the end of the deal. Additional perks include a dedicated interpreter and travel costs between Japan and the U.S..

Posting Fee and Franchise History

As part of the transaction, Chicago owes a transfer fee of over $6.5 million to the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, Murakami's longtime team in Japan's Central League. The Japanese club get a supplemental fee of any triggered incentive payments.

Murakami will become the fourth player from Japan to represent the White Sox, in the footsteps of pitcher Shingo Takatsu (2004-05), second baseman Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07), and fielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012). Notably, Takatsu once managed Murakami during their time in Japan.

Career Highlights

Murakami, a left-side batter who will turn 26 soon, enters a emerging core of hitters in Chicago that contains prospects like Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, and Chase Meidroth. The White Sox are coming off a last-place season, placing last in the American League Central but showing a notable improvement from the previous campaign.

The winner of back-to-back Most Valuable Player honors in 2021 and 2022, Murakami made history with a historic 2022 season where he launched 56 home runs, breaking the single-season record for a player in Japan formerly held by legend Sadaharu Oh. That performance also made him the most youthful hitter ever to secure Japan's coveted Triple Crown.

His most recent NPB campaign was shortened to a partial schedule due to an oblique injury. Despite fanning often, he batted .273 with 22 homers and 47 runs batted in.

Over his eight-year tenure with the Yakult club, Murakami has accumulated a .270 batting average with 246 home runs, 647 runs batted in, and nearly 1,000 strikeouts in 892 contests. He started playing primarily at first, he has since transitioned to third base.

Global Stage Success

Murakami's clutch hitting were on center stage during the 2023 WBC. In the semi-final against Mexico, he hit a walk-off double that scored teammates for a thrilling one-run win. The very next day in the title match against the United States, he hit a tying shot in the early innings, paving the way for Japan's 3-2 championship win.

The lefty slugger is set to be officially presented at a introductory event on the coming Monday.