Winter Meetings Dec. Trades FA Signings Thread

[caulfield12]

There's no way to get anything besides the equivalent of Brayan Ramos OR Oscar Colas at their high points.

#80-120 prospects at their high points.

And that's likely sending along $8-10 million.

Just for taking his contract on, you're lucky to get a subscription to Netflix for one year out of it.

Not to mention the price to fully insure the contract on top of that, adding another $2-3...of Lloyd's of London will even take that on that kind of risk.

 

If a compensation pick was out there in the 30s to add into the current draft pool pot, that's probably more valuable and even buys Getz more time if he takes a prep player.

[caulfield12]

"Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic writes that the A’s proposed a four-year deal to HaSeong Kim, $48MM total. It’s unclear if that would have included any opt-out opportunities, though it seems safe to assume they wouldn’t have risked a four-year commitment that allowed him to opt out after just one season. The A’s have a franchise shortstop in Jacob Wilson but are looking for second and/or third base help."   mlbtraderumors.com

 

At least it's a somewhat intriguing bargain rate offer.

Kim betting here that he can earn a lot more than $28 million over the next three seasons after one year with ATL, presumably at SS.

[CWSpalehoseCWS]

2 hours ago, CaliSoxFanViaSWside said:

So its a more expensive, proven in Japan version of Tim Elko. Except he's LH and Elko is RH . Elko should go to Japan. He might be a star there. 

I know I'm cheapening his value considering he was a superstar in Japan while still very young. Ill be interested in following him since we are hearing scouts call him a boom or bust kind of guy. I think its more likely he'll hit a lot of bombs and K a lot and be neither a bust nor a boom. He'll be worth his contract. 

Im highly skeptical the Sox get him because money as usual even if he signs a fairly reasonable contract. Sox arent doing reasonable if it involves 3+ years over $50M. There's no way JR wants to pay anyone during the strike season. 

No - Murakami always carried a good BB% in the NPB. Elko would swing at a ball rolled to home plate.

But I'd agree with you, the Sox aren't going to be players for him.

[Chicago White Sox]

Think I’m going to order my son a custom made Murakami White Sox jersey for Christmas and do so today.  Just can’t risk this gets announced Monday and the site can’t make & ship in time.  That jersey needs to be under the Christmas tree come hell and high water.

[caulfield12]

#55

[Chicago White Sox]

10 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

#55

Thanks…guessing Ellard retired to avoid any awkward moments with Murakami over numbers.

[WhiteSox2023]

1 hour ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Think I’m going to order my son a custom made Murakami White Sox jersey for Christmas and do so today.  Just can’t risk this gets announced Monday and the site can’t make & ship in time.  That jersey needs to be under the Christmas tree come hell and high water.

I see @Chicago White Sox is hitting the Christmas eggnog early and hard.

Edited December 17 by WhiteSox2023

[Chicago White Sox]

46 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

I see @Chicago White Sox is hitting the Christmas eggnog early and hard.

Unfortunately I don’t drink while I’m rosterbating.  As such, my posts on Murakami reflect very pure & highly objective thoughts based on countless hours of research & analysis.  The evidence of Murakami signing with the Sox by Monday is clear:

1. Getz has stated they have a big need for a LH corner infielder
2. The Sox have financial flexibility given little payroll committed to next year’s roster and what should be a moderate increase YoY due to the new TV deal
3. The Sox have zero long term commitments and new mega rich owner coming  into the fold in four years
4. The Sox have recently hired their first ever Japanese scout
5. Very few big market teams have a need for a 1B at this time and concerns with his bat (see below) make him a harder sell as a DH
6. Murakami has enough warts with the bat (primarily K rate) to scare off teams that need a higher degree of certainty and will likely shrink his market some
7. Two safer 1B options are still available to contenders in O’Hearn & Okamoto and will come much cheaper
8. He must make a decision by Monday and none of the big money clubs have been linked to him yet directly

As you can see above, the evidence that Murakami signs with the White Sox is exhaustive and we should start getting very excited this is happening.

Edited December 17 by Chicago White Sox

[bmags]

I'm not sure if murakami is a good idea, but I'm holding onto it just as some sign that the white sox are a major league baseball team that exists and is participating in baseball like the others.

[WBWSF]

11 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Unfortunately I don’t drink while I’m rosterbating.  As such, my posts on Murakami reflect very pure & highly objective thoughts based on countless hours of research & analysis.  The evidence of Murakami signing with the Sox by Monday is clear:

1. Getz has stated they have a big need for a LH corner infielder
2. The Sox have financial flexibility given little payroll committed to next year’s roster and what should be a moderate increase YoY due to the new TV deal
3. The Sox have zero long term commitments and new mega rich owner coming  into the fold in four years
4. The Sox have recently hired their first ever Japanese scout
5. Very few big market teams have a need for a 1B at this time and concerns with his bat (see below) make him a harder sell as a DH
6. Murakami has enough warts with the bat (primarily K rate) to scare off teams that need a higher degree of certainty and will likely shrink his market some
7. Two safer 1B options are still available to contenders in O’Hearn & Okamoto and will come much cheaper
8. He must make a decision by Monday and none of the big money clubs have been linked to him yet directly

As you can see above, the evidence that Murakami is exhaustive and we should start getting very excited this is happening.

I hope you're right. I hope Getz signs somebody who can actually help the team.

[caulfield12]

27 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Unfortunately I don’t drink while I’m rosterbating.  As such, my posts on Murakami reflect very pure & highly objective thoughts based on countless hours of research & analysis.  The evidence of Murakami signing with the Sox by Monday is clear:

1. Getz has stated they have a big need for a LH corner infielder
2. The Sox have financial flexibility given little payroll committed to next year’s roster and what should be a moderate increase YoY due to the new TV deal
3. The Sox have zero long term commitments and new mega rich owner coming  into the fold in four years
4. The Sox have recently hired their first ever Japanese scout
5. Very few big market teams have a need for a 1B at this time and concerns with his bat (see below) make him a harder sell as a DH
6. Murakami has enough warts with the bat (primarily K rate) to scare off teams that need a higher degree of certainty and will likely shrink his market some
7. Two safer 1B options are still available to contenders in O’Hearn & Okamoto and will come much cheaper
8. He must make a decision by Monday and none of the big money clubs have been linked to him yet directly

As you can see above, the evidence that Murakami is exhaustive and we should start getting very excited this is happening.

You forgot his nickname, the Babe Ruth of Higo/Japan.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25259728-munetaka-murakami-babe-ruth-higo-really-worth-hype

Only one other player has held that nickname previously, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Sadaharu-Oh

[Chicago White Sox]

18 minutes ago, WBWSF said:

I hope you're right. I hope Getz signs somebody who can actually help the team.

Let’s get pumped!

[caulfield12]

 

When international players are posted for MLB teams, they’re given a limited window during which to sign. That window lasts 30 days for players coming over from the KBO, while NPB players have 45 days. Two such players are having their windows draw to a close in the next few days: KBO infielder Sung Mun Song, who will need to sign by December 21 at 4pm CT, and NPB slugger Munetaka Murakami, who will need to sign by December 22 at 4pm CT.

Murakami is by far the more well-known player, heralded for his youth and prodigious power despite concerns about his contact ability. He should land a healthy multi-year deal in free agency, though his camp has kept things very quiet to this point. Song hasn’t garnered as much fanfare but is coming off a pair of terrific seasons, wherein he combined to his .327/.397/.524 with a 10.5% walk rate and just a 14.3% strikeout rate.

mlbtraderumors.com

[Chicago White Sox]

Imagine this lineup next year:

1. Meidroth, 2B
2. Teel, CA*
3. Montgomery, SS*
4. Robert, CF
5. Murakami, 1B*
6. Vargas, 3B
7. Benintendi, LF*
8. Quero, DH#
9. Baldwin, RF#

You might get 120 HRs out of the #3 to #5 spots!

[caulfield12]

“He has legit power,” said one scout who has watched Murakami multiple times. “It should translate to the Majors.” The Yankees, Mets, Mariners, Phillies, Giants and Red Sox are among the clubs expected to have interest in Murakami, one of two Japanese sluggers expected to make the move to the Majors this winter."

https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/article/munetaka-murakami-signing-soon-free-agency-flurry--examining-world-baseball-classic-usa-and-dr-rosters-201903999.html&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjMu5HY9sSRAxWfmSYFHaFiNuEQFnoECAMQAg&usg=AOvVaw1gsAT7ddoY6fsYmFip17gP

Red Sox seem to be prioritizing Bregman...Boras will draw it out with Tigers, Astros, etc.  Already have Yoshida on books.

Phillies can probably cross him off the list after Schwarber, still need to deal with Realmuto, maybe CF and are likely losing a SP.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2025/12/15/munetaka-murakami-deadline-best-fits-mlb/87775832007/

This article adds the Cubs and Blue Jays. 

Yankees Mets Mariners Giants...one of those six teams that doesn't get Bregman/Bellinger. 

Giants, just feels off based on their actions so far this winter. That said, Posey seems to want to make a splash.  Mixed results with Korean CF Lee.

So that list constitutes pretty much every large market team that could afford a $80-140 million dollar deal to just blow up spectacularly except the Dodgers.

You also wonder if he might want to pair up with Imai somewhere...and which teams will sit out Monday deadline to play chicken with Boras at the end.

 

Edited December 17 by caulfield12

[WhiteSox2023]

1 hour ago, Chicago White Sox said:

8.  He must make a decision by Monday and none of the big money clubs have been linked to him yet directly

I realize your post is mostly in jest, but this statement is not true.

https://www.mlb.com/news/munetaka-murakami-market-mlb?partnerID=mlbapp-iOS_article-share

Also, see @caulfield12‘s more recent article above.  Meanwhile, all we have is Jim Duquette saying the White Sox could sign him because they have a low payroll and money to spend.  Jim must’ve forgotten who currently owns the White Sox.

Edited December 17 by WhiteSox2023

[Chicago White Sox]

6 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

This is not true.

https://www.mlb.com/news/munetaka-murakami-market-mlb?partnerID=mlbapp-iOS_article-share

Also, see @caulfield12‘s post above.

 That’s literally nothing but speculation

[caulfield12]

2 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

This is not true.

https://www.mlb.com/news/munetaka-murakami-market-mlb?partnerID=mlbapp-iOS_article-share

https://rumbunter.com/pirates-recent-free-agent-connection-would-be-a-massive-offensive-risk-murakami

Pirates also have shown interest.  This article argues against.

 

Japanese FA's have all been quite quiet throughout this process....think it's partially a cultural thing.

Probably know the least about Imai, who will receive somewhere between $150-$225 million.

It was unusual when Roki Sasaki actually listed a final three near the end and visited each team and also asked for detailed plans for bringing back his FB life.

Padres have also been linked to Okamoto fwiw.

[WhiteSox2023]

3 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

 That’s literally nothing but speculation

Just like the made up White Sox interest.

Edited December 17 by WhiteSox2023

[caulfield12]

5 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

 That’s literally nothing but speculation

Not sure anyone is going to bet on the White Sox against that field of potential landing spots listed.

But some hope is better than none at all.

Would be biggest shocker of off season.

 

Hard to believe Ricketts would sign him...but Cubs' have been quieter than a church mouse recently.

TEAM	ODDS	EQUIVALENT PROBABILITY
New York Yankees	+350	22.2%
New York Mets	+400	20%
Philadelphia Phillies	+500	16.7%
Seattle Mariners	+700	12.5%
Los Angeles Dodgers	+700	12.5%
San Francisco Giants	+1000	9.1%
Boston Red Sox	+1200	7.7%
The Field	+650	13.3%

Edited December 17 by caulfield12

[Bob Sacamano]

It’s also speculation that there aren’t many teams in on him, just because it’s not being reported on.

[Chicago White Sox]

lol…doubters grasping at straws trying to convince themselves Murakami is heading elsewhere.  Unfortunately for them Christmas will be coming early this year in Tokyo & Chicago.

[caulfield12]

Imai is #2 on the pitching market and even ahead of Valdez on some boards and nobody has a clue where he's going right now.

Except NOT the Dodgers.

[Chicago White Sox]

4 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

Just like the made up White Sox interest.

I provided eight pieces of evidence.  This is eerily similar to when we signed Abreu years back.  People were doubtful back then despite all the supporting points that showed we were a serious threat for Jose.  Looks like history is going to repeat itself by Monday.

[Chicago White Sox]

8 minutes ago, Bob Sacamano said:

It’s also speculation that there aren’t many teams in on him, just because it’s not being reported on.

Never said no one was in on him, just said no one is publicly linked to him yet.  If a Yankees were in the mix, that s%*# would be leaked so hard to drive up the price.  It’s a very promising sign of where his market stands.