https://www.nbcsports.com/fantasy/baseball/player-news/2026-07-14/munetaka-murakami-wants-long-term-deal-with-white-sox&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjsgsjZvdOVAxX1BbwBHSh2A7sQFnoECAgQAg&usg=AOvVaw0S6aaV0rY1DBHZfJd39WUb

1 hour ago, caulfield12 said:

None of those Mune related revenue have been finalized as Japanese corporate sponsors await his long-term destination.

TV ratings in Japan and Sox merchandising are largely shared revenues across all thirty teams, except for those sold through the ballpark/team store.

WBEZ

How Munetaka Murakami is teeing up business for White Sox...

“As soon as we signed him we changed our thinking and moved our ticket sales targets up because we anticipated him bringing in more interest,” Sox chief revenue and marketing officer Brooks Boyer said

Sure, but Ohtani is getting $100 million personally and the Dodgers are leveraging him Yamamoto and Sasaki and those World Series titles for another $200-250 million per year, all revenue streams considered.

White Sox still haven't signed any corporate partnership/sponsorship deals with Japanese companies.

We will see if the Sox take on any new salaries at the trade deadline...saving on prospects while essentially purchasing the the last two months of 2026/option buyouts, etc.

Edited July 15Jul 15 by caulfield12

21 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

White Sox still haven't signed any corporate partnership/sponsorship deals with Japanese companies.

Mune's next bobblehead is sponsored by Toto (as are the actual clubhouse bidets IIRC)

The travel packages will have Japanese airline and travel agency partners

16 hours ago, tray said:

Ishbia's private equity company has a contingent contract to purchase the rail yard in Pilsen on the East side of the canal. He is seeking a Federally backed loan to relocate that yard. Not sure whether the ISFA , owner of the Rate Field parking lots, is all in on a land swap with Amtrak, at least not that I am aware of. That would be a first step to relocating the rail yard to Bridgeport. That, and the Federally backed loan.

The Stadium Authority would have nothing to do with the properties that have been mentioned.

Appreciate Kenzo's diplomacy, but I also kind of love the attitude. These White Sox aren't fighting for the approval of anyone other than the guys in the room.

Side note, it's gotta be a pretty fun whirlwind year for Kenzo too. Probably didn't expect to be walking the ASG red carpet and facilitating conversations with the national media and other MLB stars in his first year.

Japanese fans seem really complimentary of him compared to other interpreters around MLB (though some think Shohei's previous guy might have been a little bettor...)

Kind of feel like Mune gets what it's like to be an southsider. He was born to be at this club. Love it. I imagine they'll try and get an extension done before the end of the year. You know Jerry must be salivating at the $$$$ he brings in.

7 hours ago, Colome's Hat said:

Kind of feel like Mune gets what it's like to be an southsider. He was born to be at this club. Love it. I imagine they'll try and get an extension done before the end of the year. You know Jerry must be salivating at the $$$$ he brings in.

Tarps off, slamming 'za on the lake with the boys lol

I'm sure he would have gotten on well enough anywhere, but there does seem to be a special spark to how well/quickly he meshed here.

Sorry LA fans, the only 2024 Dodger that Mune has eyes for is Miguel Vargas

If they pay him, it’s also difficult to see them paying both Vargas and Montgomery with all these kids in the pipeline. And then the choice is, which one is leaving, Mune’s best friend? Montgomery? Both?

most Japanese thing Ive ever seen

David Keller was on Foul Territory a couple days ago and again objected to how the Mune signing gets characterized as something they just got lucky and stumbled into.

He said they were intentional with wanting to establish a presence in Asia and Mune was on their radar for a while even though they didn't know where the market would fall. Seemed to want to emphasize that it was a good process and not just a good result, similar to the Roch draft room discussions where you had various departments weighing in on pros/cons/projections/development plans.

He mentioned that he was also scouting players from a future NBP class on his 2 week Japan trip, but didn't want to "tip their hand" on those targets.

1 hour ago, Autumn Dreamin said:

David Keller was on Foul Territory a couple days ago and again objected to how the Mune signing gets characterized as something they just got lucky and stumbled into.

He said they were intentional with wanting to establish a presence in Asia and Mune was on their radar for a while even though they didn't know where the market would fall. Seemed to want to emphasize that it was a good process and not just a good result, similar to the Roch draft room discussions where you had various departments weighing in on pros/cons/projections/development plans.

He mentioned that he was also scouting players from a future NBP class on his 2 week Japan trip, but didn't want to "tip their hand" on those targets.

T.Sato is the obvious target with no position players even getting $100 million plus and the Kyle Tucker deal weighing as well, not to mention Bichette.

Itoh on the pitching front, but Imai/Sasaki causing some consternation there. Itoh not a fire baller, mid 90s, more like a Davis Martin type.

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by caulfield12