https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/white-sox-predicted-land-japanese-165639949.

Too good to be true? Probably. But absolutely worth noting. He crushed 56 home runs in 2022 and won the Triple Crown. At just 25 years old, he’d fit perfectly into what the Sox are trying to build. 

Apparently David Schoenfield of ESPN predicted that the White Sox will be his landing spot. He has until 4pm this Monday to sign with an MLB team. 
 

 

 

 

 

Finally time for a standalone Murakami thread.  Looks like Santa is coming early this year boys!

the "espn prediction" is an opinion piece in which some guy talks about "well the sox should probably spend some money, they could use a first baseman, my prediction is that they will sign murakami".

as far as i know, there has been nothing to actually indicate the sox are negotiating with him or that he's even on the radar. 

 

3 minutes ago, DirtySox said:

 

If they somehow get him well under what his projected deal was going to be, that would be a hell of an early Christmas gift.

I know Jerry probably doesn’t want to pay a posting fee, but hopefully Ishbia convinces him that he will write a check for that.

Edited December 20, 2025Dec 20 by Bob Sacamano

 Wont happen since he's not a slap hitter.

Once an outside puts on the Sox uniform suck seems to over take them.

Has so much BS in the offseason ever been this bad before the 24 hour sports networks?  

Who remembers Fukadome?  Cubs curse Sox blessing

Edited December 20, 2025Dec 20 by kitekrazy

He just feels like a guy the Angels are going to sign, but I would like the Sox to do anything to add significant talent. His K rate, in zone miss, etc aren’t pretty but the power is stoopid, so… might be fun.

5 minutes ago, DirtySox said:

 

Bruce Levine has always been the most credible source in the industry.

It doesn't help anybody for the White Sox to be ruled out. Murakami to WSox helps Murakami drive up what little interest he has. It lets O'Hearn know the Sox have other options. It keeps fans refreshing Twitter and listening to insipid sports mumble programs where everything is possible. 

I still think an off-season of O'Hearn, Bassitt (or reasonable facsimile), Bleday (orf) and some sort of leverage bullpen dude would be an insane out-of-the-park off-season compared to what we've been prepped for. 

9 minutes ago, DirtySox said:

 

Even James agrees it’s happening now!

5 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Even James agrees it’s happening now!

@Y2Jimmy0!

11 minutes ago, ChiSoxFanMike said:

Bruce Levine has always been the most credible source in the industry.

You don’t trust Krusty the Clown?

I was looking at the bat speed of the players projected to be on this roster and we have very few guys who above average.  Colson & Robert are both elite, but the latter will likely be gone before the end of next season.  After that, we’re just left with Mead & Sosa, who are both just slightly above average.  Everyone else on the roster is about average to well below.

Point is this team is going to need some power.  Roch, Braden, & Bonemer will all help eventually, but we really need a thumber in the near-term that can slot into 1B or DH.  Murakami can be a mini Schwarber.  People keep acting like his K rate and zone contact rate are death sentences, but they are both better than Ohtani’s were in Japan.  In a suppressed market, this is a swing you take if you’re the White Sox and I honestly think they will when it’s all said and done.

Your Holiness, we thank you for gracing us with the #1 pick. We humble Sox fans ask for one more blessing as we near the birth of our Lord, Amen.

 

6 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

I was looking at the bat speed of the players projected to be on this roster and we have very few guys who above average.  Colson & Robert are both elite, but the latter will likely be gone before the end of next season.  After that, we’re just left with Mead & Sosa, who are both just slightly above average.  Everyone else on the roster is about average to well below.

Point is this team is going to need some power.  Roch, Braden, & Bonemer will all help eventually, but we really need a thumber in the near-term that can slot into 1B or DH.  Murakami can be a mini Schwarber.  People keep acting like his K rate and zone contact rate are death sentences, but they are both better than Ohtani’s were in Japan.  In a suppressed market, this is a swing you take if you’re the White Sox and I honestly think they will when it’s all said and done.

I've read that every Japanese hitter has issues hitting velo once the come to America. They're professional hitters. They adjust. The strikeouts concern me. I don't think they need Murakami as a core piece. 

6 minutes ago, DoUEvenShift said:

 

 

Side note: The Sox Sunday home uniforms should be the pope outfit. Just go all in.

12 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

I was looking at the bat speed of the players projected to be on this roster and we have very few guys who above average.  Colson & Robert are both elite, but the latter will likely be gone before the end of next season.  After that, we’re just left with Mead & Sosa, who are both just slightly above average.  Everyone else on the roster is about average to well below.

Point is this team is going to need some power.  Roch, Braden, & Bonemer will all help eventually, but we really need a thumber in the near-term that can slot into 1B or DH.  Murakami can be a mini Schwarber.  People keep acting like his K rate and zone contact rate are death sentences, but they are both better than Ohtani’s were in Japan.  In a suppressed market, this is a swing you take if you’re the White Sox and I honestly think they will when it’s all said and done.

Murakami could strike out 200 times a season for all I care as long as he hits bombs.

7 minutes ago, ChiSoxFanMike said:

Murakami could strike out 200 times a season for all I care as long as he hits bombs.

So you want Gallo, minus the OF/CF value

It would be nice to see the Sox make an effort at something more exciting than another team's castoff.  This would be a really good move to regain some fan interest at a cost that should be very affordable.  I am all in.

1 hour ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Finally time for a standalone Murakami thread.  Looks like Santa is coming early this year boys!

you’re willing this into reality

I'm not sure he's that good. However he would not get more than a 3 or 4 year deal from anybody so the risk is relatively low if he stinks the deck is cleared around 2028 when ideally the money is refreshed via Ishbia and Sox can play in a bigger pool. 

Signing him also would give the Sox a big marketing boost in baseball crazy Japan. Small upside to consider revenue wise long term.

48 minutes ago, kitekrazy said:

 Wont happen since he's not a slap hitter.

Once an outside puts on the Sox uniform suck seems to over take them.

Has so much BS in the offseason ever been this bad before the 24 hour sports networks?  

Who remembers Fukadome?  Cubs curse Sox blessing

Wow it's like a greatest hits post. 

19 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

I've read that every Japanese hitter has issues hitting velo once the come to America. They're professional hitters. They adjust. The strikeouts concern me. I don't think they need Murakami as a core piece. 

It’s a gamble for sure, and one I would probably take if his market and projected deal aren’t there.

6 minutes ago, Fielder Jones said:

So you want Gallo, minus the OF/CF value

Prime Joey Gallo was one of the best home run hitters in the game and an above average hitter even with all the strikeouts. I’d definitely take that at first base on this team. They desperately need more power.

6 minutes ago, Fielder Jones said:

So you want Gallo, minus the OF/CF value

I mean I’d take prime gallo with a better BA/OBP. Certainly a risk, but we have no payroll to worry about