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With guys they do that for, it's usually around Memorial Day during the last year of their contract.

No takers, as of yet.

$90 million wasn’t a very good price for him but he is a pretty good hitter. He would probably be starting for many teams.

It is when you're paying that to Masataka Yoshida to ride the pines.

He missed all of early training camp.

I have never wanted Aaron Rodgers to win a game in my life. This sucks.

Grade A+ At this price, it's a more than worthy project. If it succeeds, there will be a lot of teams looking back at this opportunity, wishing they had focused more on what Murakami can do, and not what they think he cannot. And who knows? If Murakami, who is sure to be highly motivated after the way his posting window unfolded, becomes some semblance of that 56-homer monster we first heard about, maybe he will decide his new South Side digs suit him just fine. And when he's ready to win, the White Sox club around him might be ready to do the same. -- Doolittle "In a White Sox organization rich in young infield talent, that destiny seems like a good bet. Besides the likes of Colson Montgomery, Chase Meidroth and Billy Carlson, Chicago is likely to add UCLA star Roch Cholowsky to the mix with the No. 1 pick in the 2026 draft. There doesn't seem to be any great need to give Murakami much of a runway at third base, though for 2026, it might be worth a shot, if only to build value." https://global.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46994593/2025-26-mlb-offseason-grades-free-agency-trade-analysis Playing him at 3B to further increase trade value is worth at least investigating, with pretty much nothing to lose but Vargas/Mead playing time at risk.

Agreed. You did it for Keuchel. You can do it for him.

That’s a bit ridiculous. He is about $40 million after the posting fee. That isn’t much money/risk to a team like the Red Sox.

https://sonsofsamhorn.net/index.php?threads/murakami-signs-with-chisox.47581/#post-7011135 Red Sox fans' takes on missing out on Murakami. Seem to feel too much risk for a contender to just give him a job. Outfield picture way too crowded. Someone has to go. T.Casas continues to be a polarizing figure on and off the field.

Just eat the deal. You hav3 to pay him anyway, so pay him to go away.

Kind of sounds like a bust with little interest from legit teams out there. At least they are trying. Maybe him and Lou will become close buds.

https://www.mlb.com/whitesox/news/munetaka-murakami-white-sox-contract 11 am Monday morning press conference scheduled https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/mlb/chicago-white-sox/news/munetaka-murakami-white-sox-japanese-hr-champion-chicago/ed6394ee928cf5edd7318225 Red Sox fans must be mystified why they finished in second for Murakami.

If he's one of the Top Ten hitters in mlb history his first 7-8 big league seasons, it will be quite the story. Completely different offensive approaches and contact skills.

Antonacci still arguably needs more time in the minors. Unless he just blows Meidroth away in ST and looks better than expected defensively, but Chase was lousy for most of his time in AZ as well last year. Also don't see them carrying three catchers. Sosa and Mead are clearly most at risk...but maybe Lenyn DHs unless they pull Benintendi out of LF.

he looks like a “moose.” can we call him moose?

Frank Thomas part 2? Methinks so

Between Colson, Murakami and Braden there should be some serious savagery in this lineup. Meidroth/Antonacci platoon at leadoff, Teel 2nd to get guys on base and then a wave of savages after that.

The roster opens up way more if Benintendi would get the hell outta here.

Funny how these clowns are NOW posting Japanese market rumors

Right now, I’m assuming Quero is the primary DH (and backup catcher). As bad as Baldwin was in the OF corners last year, I think he’s worth giving an extended look there to see if he can improve with more repetition. I think there is still room for Sosa on the 26 man roster, but they need to see if he can play some LF along with filling in at 2B, 1B, & DH. His ability to crush LHP is still super valuable.

For comparison in how they performed in Japan: Shohei’s K rates in his age 20-22 seasons in Japan were 36%, 26%, and 27%. His career K rate in MLB is 25.5% with a low season of 22.2% and a high season of 29.6%. His BB% over the same ages were 7%, 14%, and 10%. His career BB% rate in MLB is 12.5% with a low season of 7.8% and a high season of 15.2%. Munetaka Murakami’s K rates in his age 20-22 seasons in Japan were 22%, 21%, and 21%. The last 3 seasons it was 28%, 29%, and 29%. His BB% over the same ages as Ohtani were 17%, 17%, and 19%.

And on top of it, you aren't picking a guy at that stage who you don't already have an agreement 99% done with.

College freshman aren't draft eligible. Only some sophomores are. Depends on birthdate/age.

Theoretically yes? I don’t really have an answer for you, it just seems less common, which makes me think it’s more difficult. I’m just a guy on a message board, though.