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In a notable move for their overhauling roster, the South Side team have welcomed slugger Munetaka Murakami, completing a two-year contract with the power-hitting player.

Contract Details and Added Benefits

The contract grants a $1 million signing bonus, to be paid within 30 days, in addition to annual pay of $16M for the next season and $17M for the final year.

Notably, Murakami's compensation can increase based on accolade achievements in 2026:

• A seven-figure bonus for earning the MVP award.
• $500K for finishing second or third in MVP voting.
• $250K for finishing fourth through 10th.
• $250,000 for being named the ROY honor.

The contract provides that he cannot be sent to the minor leagues without his approval and makes him a unrestricted player at the end of the term. Extra provisions 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 Swallows, Murakami's previous team in Japan's professional league. The Japanese club are also entitled to a supplemental fee of any triggered incentive payments.

Murakami will become the fourth player from Japan to suit up for the South Siders, following pitcher Shingo Takatsu (2004-05), infielder Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07), and outfielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012). Notably, Takatsu once managed Murakami while both were in Japan.

Career Highlights

Murakami, a left-side batter who will turn 26 soon, bolsters a promising lineup in Chicago that also features prospects like Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, and Chase Meidroth. The club are finished with a last-place season, finishing at the bottom in the American League Central but representing a notable improvement from the previous campaign.

Having earned Most Valuable Player honors in consecutive seasons, Murakami is famous for a historic 2022 season where he belted 56 home runs, breaking the single-season record for a player in Japan formerly held by legend Sadaharu Oh. That feat also made him the youngest player ever to achieve Japan's elusive Triple Crown.

His last year was shortened to just 56 appearances due to an muscle issue. Despite striking out often, he still managed .273 with 22 homers and 47 runs batted in.

Over his eight-year tenure with the Yakult club, Murakami has compiled a .270 lifetime batting average with 246 HRs, 647 RBI, and 977 Ks in nearly 900 games. Early in his career playing mostly at first, he has since transitioned to third.

Global Stage Success

Murakami's heroics were on global view during the 2023 WBC. In the semifinal against Mexico, he hit a victory-sealing double that brought home two fellow Japanese stars for a come-from-behind 6-5 victory. The very next day in the final against the United States, he hit a game-tying homer in the early innings, paving the way for Japan's 3-2 title triumph.

The power hitter is set to be formally introduced at a introductory event on Monday.