Per Passan: White Sox sign Munetaka Murakami 2 years 34M

[kitekrazy]

these deals are always orchestrated to eventually make Birmingham better.

I wouldn't expect miracles the 1st season.  Learning pitchers is not overnight and will take at least a season.

[PaleAleSox]

1 minute ago, kitekrazy said:

these deals are always orchestrated to eventually make Birmingham better.

I wouldn't expect miracles the 1st season.  Learning pitchers is not overnight and will take at least a season.

You always say that first line and it’s dumber each time. 

[Chicago White Sox]

30 minutes ago, TheBooneLoganEra said:

I wonder if they do sign Fairbanks now. A closer and another veteran starter and they could be a surprise team next season. 

100% agree.  And Venable did say he expected multiple moves happening soon.  I still think Fairbanks is a real possibility.  That being said, I do think they go cheaper with whatever vet starter they sign, although would love to be surprised there.

[kitekrazy]

1 minute ago, PaleAleSox said:

You always say that first line and it’s dumber each time. 

LOL! A  contradiction on your part.  Ever heard of HISTORY.

Nice try,,,,,,,,,,,yawn!  I will say it until I'm proven 100% wrong.  It's what all budget teams do.

[WhiteSox2023]

2 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

100% agree.  And Venable did say he expected multiple moves happening soon.  I still think Fairbanks is a real possibility.  That being said, I do think they go cheaper with whatever vet starter they sign, although would love to be surprised there.

I don’t think Fairbanks will be worth the money get gets.  Would rather put that money toward another starter.

[chitownsportsfan]

Fun signing that comes at a lower AAV than Beni and falls off at same time. Well done.

 

 

 

 

[harmony]

Hats off to the White Sox ... and to Munetaka Murakami. 

[caulfield12]

1 minute ago, chw42 said:

Does Murakami have a big following in Japan? I know he was insane 3 years ago but he's dropped off in recent years. Surely he's a bigger name than Seiya Suzuki right? 

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.

[TheBooneLoganEra]

23 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

Passan noted that some teams made longer-term contract offers at a lower AAV to try to get him on a steal of a contract but Murakami is banking on himself to perform and sign and large deal at age 28.

It's nice to have highly motivated players for a change.

[Quin]

Hell yeah. Ball go far.

[kitekrazy]

1 minute ago, TheBooneLoganEra said:

It's nice to have highly motivated players for a change.

I would say that was the biggest change in 2025.

A 100 loss Venable team was worth watching compared to a 100 loss Grifol team. 

[nrockway]

I do think it’s notable that he could’ve signed this same deal with a better team in need of a 1b/DH type (Mets, Red Sox, Braves, Padres come to mind) or with plenty of other ‘rebuilding’/treadmilling teams, but our Sox came out on top for a  premier free agent. I was also thinking about how Ketel Marte’s no-trade clause didn’t apply to the White Sox and maybe the team’s reputation is out of the toilet compared to even two seasons ago when every former Sock couldn’t wait to trash talk the team’s culture. Even if Murakami-sama is a bust, I think it inspires confidence that the team can actually attract a free agent relative to other organizations. 

[Chicago White Sox]

37 minutes ago, TheBooneLoganEra said:

I really like that lineup when Braden joins in

Yup, it becomes a potentially serious lineup when he’s up.  And while I’m a huge Meidroth fan, if he can’t get further improve his OBP and ability to impact the baseball against RHP, then that opens the door for Antonacci to make a case for the 2B job.  Outside of Benintendi, this positional group should super exciting.

[Chicago White Sox]

30 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

It might not be for too long though, once the draft comes and someone gets some time in the minors.

And that’s totally fine.  Would be a great problem to have a 2.5 win 3B in Vargas for three more years while Cholowski is pushing for the SS job and forcing Colson to 3B.

[The Beast]

Merry Christmas White Sox fans! Old Jerry opened the wallet for some actual talent and didn’t do more bargain bin shopping! Up that payroll, keep your existing stadium or build a new one with your own money in Chicago and act like a functioning MLB team!

[caulfield12]

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.

[chw42]

21 minutes ago, kitekrazy said:

these deals are always orchestrated to eventually make Birmingham better.

I wouldn't expect miracles the 1st season.  Learning pitchers is not overnight and will take at least a season.

The trend I see with a lot of big name Japanese hitters that come over is that they excel for the first few months, the scouting report catches up to them, and then they need to adjust to survive. Fukudome and Seiya Suzuki both started off hot and sizzled out as their first season went along. Fukudome never adjusted and Suzuki did. 

It could be different now that scouting is more advanced, but I honestly wouldn't be shocked if Murakami does well initially. 

[TheBooneLoganEra]

7 minutes ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Yup, it becomes a potentially serious lineup when he’s up.  And while I’m a huge Meidroth fan, if he can’t get further improve his OBP and ability to impact the baseball against RHP, then that opens the door for Antonacci to make a case for the 2B job.  Outside of Benintendi, this positional group should super exciting.

Well said. Dare I see we're starting to see a foundation of some positional depth? At least as far as the infield is concerned. 

[kitekrazy]

1 minute ago, chw42 said:

The trend I see with a lot of big name Japanese hitters that come over is that they excel for the first few months, the scouting report catches up to them, and then they need to adjust to survive. Fukudome and Seiya Suzuki both started off hot and sizzled out as their first season went along. Fukudome never adjusted and Suzuki did. 

It could be different now that scouting is more advanced, but I honestly wouldn't be shocked if Murakami does well initially. 

Just think the Sox offered him more money.

[caulfield12]

8 minutes ago, nrockway said:

I do think it’s notable that he could’ve signed this same deal with a better team in need of a 1b/DH type (Mets, Red Sox, Braves, Padres come to mind) or with plenty of other ‘rebuilding’/treadmilling teams, but our Sox came out on top for a  premier free agent. I was also thinking about how Ketel Marte’s no-trade clause didn’t apply to the White Sox and maybe the team’s reputation is out of the toilet compared to even two seasons ago when every former Sock couldn’t wait to trash talk the team’s culture. Even if Murakami-sama is a bust, I think it inspires confidence that the team can actually attract a free agent relative to other organizations. 

All the Marte no trade teams were weird.

You'd expect the entire AL Central Rockies Pirates A's. 

Not the case.

[caulfield12]

2 minutes ago, chw42 said:

The trend I see with a lot of big name Japanese hitters that come over is that they excel for the first few months, the scouting report catches up to them, and then they need to adjust to survive. Fukudome and Seiya Suzuki both started off hot and sizzled out as their first season went along. Fukudome never adjusted and Suzuki did. 

It could be different now that scouting is more advanced, but I honestly wouldn't be shocked if Murakami does well initially. 

Yoshida also comes to mind here.

$90 million was a significant deal at the time.  Mostly a disappointment, overall.

[Lukakke Appling]

23 minutes ago, kitekrazy said:

LOL! A  contradiction on your part.  Ever heard of HISTORY.

Nice try,,,,,,,,,,,yawn!  I will say it until I'm proven 100% wrong.  It's what all budget teams do.

His style is unblockable!

[WhiteSox2023]

2 minutes ago, kitekrazy said:

Just think the Sox offered him more money.

Perhaps the highest AAV.  Passan said that other teams tried to sign him to larger overall contracts with a lower annual salary.

[2Deep]

Nice to wake up to white sox organization doing something.

[Lip Man 1]

Very unexpected but it's nice to see the Sox doing something that on paper can be productive for next season. His contract appears to be one that JR was OK with, only two years.