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

Deal Structure and Added Benefits

The contract features a seven-figure signing bonus, to be paid within 30 days, combined with compensation of sixteen million for the upcoming season and $17M for the 2027 year.

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

• An additional $1M for earning the league MVP award.
• Half a million dollars for placing as runner-up or in third place in MVP voting.
• $250K for finishing fourth through 10th.
• Another $250,000 for winning the ROY honor.

His deal provides that he will not be optioned to the farm system without his permission and allows him to become a unrestricted player at the termination of the contract. Additional perks include a club-supplied interpreter and flight reimbursement between the U.S. and Japan.

Compensation and Team Legacy

As part of the acquisition, Chicago owes a transfer fee of $6,575,000 to the Swallows, Murakami's former team in Japan's NPB. The Swallows get a 15% cut of fifteen percent triggered performance bonuses.

Murakami is set to become the fourth Japanese to play for the White Sox, following pitcher Shingo Takatsu (2004-05), second baseman Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07), and fielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012). Interestingly, Takatsu once managed Murakami while both were in Japan.

Career Highlights

Murakami, a lefty bat who will turn 26 soon, joins a young lineup in Chicago that also features prospects like Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, and Chase Meidroth. The White Sox are coming off a difficult season, placing last in the American League Central but showing a notable improvement from the previous campaign.

The winner of back-to-back Central League MVP honors in consecutive seasons, Murakami is renowned for a historic 2022 season where he launched 56 homers, eclipsing the all-time record for a NPB hitter previously held by legend Sadaharu Oh. That year also made him the youngest player ever to win Japan's prestigious batting Triple Crown.

His 2023 season was curtailed to 56 games due to an muscle issue. Despite striking out 64 Ks, he batted .273 with 22 HRs and 47 runs batted in.

Over his eight-season tenure with the Swallows, Murakami has compiled a .270 lifetime batting average with 246 homers, 647 RBI, and 977 Ks in nearly 900 games. Initially playing primarily at first, he has spent most of his time to third base.

WBC Heroics

Murakami's clutch hitting were on full display during the 2023 WBC. In the semi-final against Mexico, he drove in a walk-off two-base hit that scored teammates for a come-from-behind one-run win. The next night in the title match against the Team USA, he blasted a game-tying homer in the second inning, helping Japan's eventual title triumph.

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