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In a significant move for their rebuilding roster, the South Side team have officially added Japanese star Munetaka Murakami, finalizing a lucrative contract for the accomplished player.

Financial Terms and Player Perks

The contract includes a seven-figure signing bonus, payable within 30 days, in addition to annual pay of $16 million for the next season and $17M for the 2027 year.

Importantly, Murakami's final-year pay may grow based on award achievements in 2026:

• $1 million for earning the Most Valuable Player award.
• $500,000 for placing in the top three in MVP voting.
• $250K for placing in the top ten.
• Another $250,000 for being named the top rookie honor.

His deal provides that he will not be optioned to the minors without his permission and allows him to become a free agent at the end of the deal. Further benefits include a club-supplied interpreter and travel costs between his home country and the States.

Posting Fee and Historical Context

As part of the acquisition, Chicago owes a posting fee of over $6.5 million to the Swallows, Murakami's former team in Japan's Central League. The Swallows get a 15% cut of any triggered salary escalators.

Murakami is set to become the fourth player from Japan to suit up for the Chicago franchise, following reliever Shingo Takatsu (2004-05), second baseman Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07), and outfielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012). Interestingly, Takatsu was a manager for Murakami while both were in Japan.

Career Highlights

Murakami, a lefty bat who turns 26 soon, bolsters a young group of offensive players in Chicago that also features prospects like Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, and Chase Meidroth. The team are coming off a last-place season, placing last in the AL Central but representing a significant improvement from the year before campaign.

Having earned league MVP honors in 2021 and 2022, Murakami is renowned for a record-breaking 2022 season where he hit 56 home runs, breaking the single-season record for a Japanese-born player formerly held by icon Sadaharu Oh. That performance also made him the most youthful hitter ever to achieve Japan's coveted batting Triple Crown.

His most recent NPB campaign was curtailed to just 56 appearances due to an side strain. Even with fanning often, he batted .273 with 22 home runs and 47 RBIs.

Over his career tenure with the Yakult club, Murakami has accumulated a .270 lifetime batting average with 246 homers, 647 RBI, and nearly 1,000 strikeouts in 892 contests. He started playing mainly at first, he has spent most of his time to the hot corner.

Global Stage Success

Murakami's heroics were on center stage during the 2023 WBC. In the semifinal against Mexico, he delivered a walk-off double that brought home two fellow Japanese stars for a dramatic one-run win. The next night in the title match against the USA, he hit a tying home run in the second inning, paving the way for Japan's eventual 3-2 victory.

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