caulfield12

The massive difference is that Contreras has been a proven run producer (when healthy) for quite some time…if their scouts were 100% sold on Murakami, they surely would have secured him on a $20-22 million one year deal, or higher AAV two years. Red Sox are not even 100% about Bregman holding up in his 30s, but he’s still a surer thing. Same with Bichette, for that matter. And they still have their young core intact, with the possible exception of moving on from Duran.

And he’s a West Coast guy with family connected to Hollywood. SFG if they miss on Imai or Padres.

Hopefully he is more Pasqua and less Palka…

Tomlin/Rodgers putting together one of the more unexpected seasons...amazing consistency.

Think Iguchi every time with that 5 but he was #15. Ray Durham lol. Pretty much the opposite of Murakami in every way except strikeouts.

Far too erotic...although much better than Hachi/ko (from A Dog's Tale.) Then there's another H for Hayao Miyazaki, the most famous Japanese animator who recently retired. Studio Ghibli/Totoro/Murakami Bobbleheads lol? SoxTalk Book Club.

More like Sugano. Relies on finesse/odd speed stuff. What next, Senga changed his mind and is coming back to the US?

Plus the trade return in 2027 or QO at the worst if he's very good. Or Ishbia steps up and makes his first long-term investment that's not stadium related. A little reminiscent of the 2014 Abreu situation where only the Rockies needed a 1B...minus the control over a big portion of his career (for now).

It was based on just 24 at bats or something like that...in 2025. Probably the majority came against Imai and elite relievers.

https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/article/is-munetaka-murakami-a-bargain-at-34m-for-2-years-his-surprise-signing-with-white-sox-fits-nicely-in-chicagos-rebuild-191334685.html

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.

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.

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.

And Michigan TN Missouri. They hardly had a soft schedule. MI was very highly ranked at the beginning of the season. Mateer was just never really the same after that hand injury...and they never developed a consistent ground game. Defense/turnovers and special teams were the reasons for most wins. Never got to face Vandy.

846 ops there is far from bad. We shall see.

"Splitters particularly give Murakami fits, as he’s done very little damage against them. Despite some of the worst contact rates in NPB..." Very few splitters/forkballs in MLB. Roki Sasaki with one of the most hyoed/famous ones. Creates significant health concerns for pitchers.

Helpful against Skubal and Ragans...to name a few.

That's pretty much a given. Will probably get tired of them. Which is a good thing, compared to the last three seasons. See Ohtani generating an extra $100-150 million per year in revenue for LAD. One would guess Close has a very strong sense how much Suzuki and Imanaga earn in additional opportunities on the Northside from Japanese companies.

Not well though...LF arm and basically a statue out there..

Yoshida also comes to mind here. $90 million was a significant deal at the time. Mostly a disappointment, overall.

All the Marte no trade teams were weird. You'd expect the entire AL Central Rockies Pirates A's. Not the case.

Rikuu Nishida will be very popular for interviews and interpreting in ST... although guessing he will have his own full time guy. Apparently his English is expanding. TikTok account will be popular with Sox and Japanese fans. Schiffren will be ecstatic. Gets to spend time in AZ with the Dodgers...Japanese media contingent will be massive that first week or so. How will Murakami adjust? Will Sasaki make the LAD rotation? Basically a big chunk of defending champion Team Samurai for that 2026 WBC together. White Sox might also get a trip to Japan in 2026/27.

Chicks ding the long ball. There's a certain mystique about S.Oh and this guy. Guys like Hideki Matsui and Seiya Suzuki are very good or even great hitters, but not necessarily selling tickets or getting all the marketing deals. This opens up Chicago to the second most Japanese press covering a US city after LA and should make it much easier to sign Japanese players in the future. Maybe Roki Sasaki could get an extended run at starting for the Sox if he can't make it in LA and gets acquired.. Maybe OF Kensuke Kondoh would be willing to join the Sox next year. Or Tatsuya Imai to at least have the White Sox on his "due diligence" list. There's now a reason for James Fegan to get back a beat reporter job or a collaboration with the Japanese press. It also drives up the tv ratings, sponsorships/advertising and males it possible for Chicagoans to get more excited about a new owner/stadium. And it hardly breaks the bank. Plus, you get the QO or trade return in July 2027 or possibly Ishbia stepping in to invest in a long term deal if everything goes right...in order to maintain positive forward momentum. Not to mention White Sox hats and jerseys immediately fly up to Top 3 in Japan as well.