4 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

We signed a 27 year old, international 1B coming off a 99 loss season back in 2013 despite concerns over his “slider bat speed”.  With a solid young core starting to form, some bigger prospects on the cusp, and the 1.01 pick in place next year with a rare elite college SS at the top, now is the time to take a swing on a 26 year old, international 1B with “contact issues” despite coming off a 102 loss season.

Makes sense but remember who is running the show here.

13 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

We signed a 27 year old, international 1B coming off a 99 loss season back in 2013 despite concerns over his “slider bat speed”.  With a solid young core starting to form, some bigger prospects on the cusp, and the 1.01 pick in place next year with a rare elite college SS at the top, now is the time to take a swing on a 26 year old, international 1B with “contact issues” despite coming off a 102 loss season.

While I don’t disagree and hope you’re right, I think the White Sox legacy with Cuban players was a factor in the Abreu signing. The Sox don’t have the same history with Japanese players. Though it is worth mentioning that Shingo Takatsu was Murakami’s manager in Japan.

19 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

We signed a 27 year old, international 1B coming off a 99 loss season back in 2013 despite concerns over his “slider bat speed”.  With a solid young core starting to form, some bigger prospects on the cusp, and the 1.01 pick in place next year with a rare elite college SS at the top, now is the time to take a swing on a 26 year old, international 1B with “contact issues” despite coming off a 102 loss season.

The financial situations are night and day though.

2 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

The financial situations are night and day though.

What financial situations are you referring to?

Just now, Chicago White Sox said:

What financial situations are you referring to?

The White Sox.

4 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

The White Sox.

Did Jerry Reinsdorf not own the team when they signed Abreu?

1 minute ago, ChiSoxFanMike said:

Did Jerry Reinsdorf not own the team when they signed Abreu?

They hadn't lost money five years in a row and racked up 9 figures of debt when they signed Abreu.  

15 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

The White Sox.

What’s radically different between now and the 2013 season?  I’m really not following here.

6 hours ago, WestEddy said:

Japanese Free Agents’ Decision Dates:

3B/1B Munetaka Murakami: 12/22/25, 5:00 PM

RHP Tatsuya Imai: 1/2/26, 5:00 PM

1B/3B Kazuma Okamoto: 1/4/26, 5:00 PM

RHP Kona Takahashi: 1/4/26, 5:00 PM

— Dan Bartels (@DanBartels2) December 17, 2025

Sox can only afford Takahashi.

Maybe.

9 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

They hadn't lost money five years in a row and racked up 9 figures of debt when they signed Abreu.  

You have their financials back to 2009?

Just now, caulfield12 said:

Sox can only afford Takahashi.

Maybe.

The idea the Sox couldn’t afford any of these guys is absolutely absurd.

7 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

The idea the Sox couldn’t afford any of these guys is absolutely absurd.

Can afford not equal to will spend.

Otherwise, Cincy would have Schwarber and the Pirates would actually have a legit middle of the order bat to go with that pitching.

 

"Cincy GM Nick Krall refuted that narrative. Deferred money was part of the effort to get Schwarber.

“I never said we were going to extend [payroll]," Krall said. "I’ve always told you guys that where our payroll was … we were trying to figure out how to be creative to get him to fit in. We were trying to be creative in year one to figure out how to continue to get him.”

mlb.com

 

The problem here is that the main strategy behind Schwarber was a theoretical attendance bump for the hometown hero.  The only player in this market Cincy believed could have that type of impact.  And still short $25-30 million in the end.

Edited December 18, 2025Dec 18 by caulfield12

1 minute ago, caulfield12 said:

Can afford not equal to will spend.

Otherwise, Cincy would have Schwarber and the Pirates would actually have a legit middle of the order bat to go with that pitching.

Cool. You said can’t afford. 

December 17th: The Cards officially announced May’s signing today. May will make $12.5MM in 2026 and the mutual option is worth $20MM, per Passan. It’s a $12MM salary and a $500K buyout on the option, per Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat.

mlbtraderumors.com

 

29 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

You have their financials back to 2009?

Covid, attendance and TV deals have killed their budget 

9 minutes ago, fathom said:

Covid, attendance and TV deals have killed their budget 

Given those circumstances you wonder what they could possibly be thinking regarding the TV move and starting their new network. That was foolish given the environment, capital outlay and resistance from carriers.  

11 minutes ago, fathom said:

Covid, attendance and TV deals have killed their budget 

Maybe if they actually put a good team on the field more than once every 15 years, people would show up. Maybe they should think of that.

If the Sox snag Murakami they better credit WBWSF and Chisoxfanmike

https://risingapple.com/ny-mets-kazuma-okamoto-contract-prediction-aligns-one-exception

4/$64 million for Okamoto?

He can actually play 3B well.  Big differentiator.

Higher offensive floor than Murakami.

Biggest problem is he will be turning 32-33 in 2028/29 competitive window years.

Seems a number of teams are hesitating on that fourth year.

Basically Murakami the sizzle, Okamoto the steak.

 

"FanGraphs' international scouting page lists Okamoto as having an average hit tool (50-grade) and above-average raw and in-game power. Murakami, by comparison, has a well-below-average hit tool (30-grade), but elite raw power (80) and high-end in-game power (70).

Given that Okamoto is more than three years older than Murakami, he is unlikely to command a significant investment in terms of the length of his contract. It's an appealing package for teams that might be concerned about the long-term viability of free agents like Pete Alonso or Kyle Schwarber, who could reasonably expect to receive deals worth at least $100 million."

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25305984-who-will-sign-kazuma-okamoto-latest-top-mlb-landing-spots-and-contract-projections

Edited December 18, 2025Dec 18 by caulfield12

21 minutes ago, ChiSoxFanMike said:

Maybe if they actually put a good team on the field more than once every 15 years, people would show up. Maybe they should think of that.

You're going to draw the Ire of He Who Shall Not be Named.

Big Christmas DFA'd.  I'd take a flier

"Teams that are willing to take on more risk and bet on the big upside may wind up having more interest in Murakami, while scouts view Okamoto as a more polished hitter who has a little bit more defensive versatility than Murakami. Okamoto could be targeted more by win-now teams that are looking for a higher-floor player. One evaluator believes Okamoto may out-hit Murakami during their first two or three years in the Majors, but assuming he signs a long-term deal, Murakami will have time to work out the kinks in his swing and become a very productive player."    mlb.com

 

Conclusion:  Sox pretty much have to roll the dice on players that can be stars versus just very good/solid pros.

Wasting first two years of Okamoto doesn't make sense at age 30-31.

 

Murakami 

Robert, Jr.

Braden Montgomery 

Schultz

H.Smith

Cholowsky

2026 #2 pick (CF/SS) 

 

To hopefully go along with Teel/Colson...Carlson has way too many unknowns at this point.

Edited December 18, 2025Dec 18 by caulfield12

41 minutes ago, Autumn Dreamin said:

 

This data is why I think his contract is going to be much, much smaller than people have been anticipating.

Why is why I think there's a non 0 chance the Sox do actually sign him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3DiiRRNlzXYuM&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwihkIjI_sWRAxU_kmoFHZvhBsgQFnoECBEQAQ&usg=AOvVaw13w_67O5GSLvRqS0HvQV_g

It's all about scouting and making adjustments coming over from NPB.

Do you trust your people or not?

We can compare offensive profiles...but still apples and oranges when you look at the mostly offspeed/high spin rate diets over in Japan vs. the US.

 

"Murakami's walk-off double His hardest-hit ball tracked in the tournament was a 115.1 mph home run off Merrill Kelly in Japan's win over the U.S. in the championship game. This year in MLB, only 19 players hit a home run 115 mph or harder."

Edited December 18, 2025Dec 18 by caulfield12