Munetaka Murakami, a 25-year-old left-handed slugger from Japan, is coming to the south side, signing a two-year, $34 million contract with the White Sox.  Murakami set the single-season home run record in the NPB in 2022 en route to the Triple Crown, swatting 56 in 141 games for the Yakult Swallows.  With the posting fee, the White Sox are on the hook for a total of $40.575 million.

Murakami does come with some question marks, which is why he fell from the expected nine-figure deal he was hoping to get when he posted in November, mainly contact issues and injury concerns.  His strikeout rate has approached 30% in recent seasons in a league that does not look for strikeouts like MLB pitchers do.  He’s also missed significant time the past two seasons, thanks to an oblique strain, a broken toe, and elbow surgery.  He’s expected to play first base for the White Sox, so his defensive limitations will likely be minimized.

Murakami becomes the first Japanese player to suit up for the White Sox since Kosuke Fukudome in 2012 and the first one signed directly from Japan since Tadahito Iguchi in 2005.  Can he help boost the White Sox offense enough to help them avoid a fourth-straight 100-loss season?  That is certainly the hope.