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

[caulfield12]

4 hours ago, JoeC said:

They’re also warning of the high heat and high humidity in the summers… which is like Chicagoans warning Floridans about our summers.

Tokyo isn't that bad at all.  Favorite Disneyland for comfort level. Studio Ghibli Amusement Park (Aichi) and Ichiro Suzuki museum run by his parents in Nagoya.

Only issue was figuring out the incredibly complex shinkasen/high speed and then subway and slower trains JR Line etc. interfaces.

Now Osaka and Kyoto...oppressive and overcrowded.

And Okinawa has pretty amazing weather in mid-November when it's not rainy season. Shorts and flip flops nearly every day.

Edited Tuesday at 10:39 PM by caulfield12

[pcq]

Murderer's row. 

[Autumn Dreamin]

 

Reinsdorf also got a preview of this with the Yuki Kawamura effect on Bulls posts

[PaleAleSox]

44 minutes ago, Autumn Dreamin said:

 

Reinsdorf also got a preview of this with the Yuki Kawamura effect on Bulls posts

The video of the social media girl trying to hit Grant Taylor is pretty good.

[JoeC]

2 hours ago, caulfield12 said:

Tokyo isn't that bad at all.  Favorite Disneyland for comfort level. Studio Ghibli Amusement Park (Aichi) and Ichiro Suzuki museum run by his parents in Nagoya.

Only issue was figuring out the incredibly complex shinkasen/high speed and then subway and slower trains JR Line etc. interfaces.

Now Osaka and Kyoto...oppressive and overcrowded.

And Okinawa has pretty amazing weather in mid-November when it's not rainy season. Shorts and flip flops nearly every day.

I beg to differ on the weather of Tokyo. I hate summers there. Nagoya (Aichi) is way worse.

Google Maps is your friend these days with the Japanese rail systems.

[caulfield12]

https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/article/what-happened-with-munetaka-murakami-how-did-a-player-projected-for-a-9-figure-deal-end-up-with-34-million-212938881.html

More articles in one week than OHearn his entire career.

Thought the joke comparing this with the Joc Pederson FA deal last year was pretty on target considering how often he was linked to the Sox in the last 5-7 years.

Edited Wednesday at 03:44 AM by caulfield12

[caulfield12]

 

[caulfield12]

“Rather than explain my swing, I would like for you to see my swing once the season starts,” he said. "I’ve been relentless working to tinker my swing to the U.S.”

Murakami will become the the fourth Japanese-born player to play for the White Sox, joining pitcher Shingo Takatsu (2004-05), second baseman Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07) and outfielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012). Takatsu managed Murakami in Japan.

Murakami said he has connected with other Japanese players about their adjustment to the majors. That includes outfielder Seiya Suzuki and left-hander Shota Imanaga of the crosstown Cubs."

 

https://japantoday.com/category/sports/white-sox-expect-japanese-slugger-munetaka-murakami-to-make-quick-impact-and-put-up-big-numbers

Also, Rafael Devers might be a better comp than Schwarber in terms of swing and miss in the strike zone.

 

"Gone are the days of having $25 million to spend and splitting it between Leury Garcia, Kendall Graveman, Joe Kelly, and Josh Harrison. Fans have been begging for even limited budgets to be allocated to higher-impact players like Murakami, considering that the former approach typically yields low (or negative) returns and replacement-level production. Even if the White Sox do not make more significant signings after Murakami and Anthony Kay, most fans would prefer this approach to the alternative."

https://www.soxon35th.com/3-takeaways-from-the-munetaka-murakami-signing/

We shall see, lol.

Edited Wednesday at 08:19 AM by caulfield12

[greg775]

This guy will take Chicago by storm. The White Sox finally make a move that figures to show in the standings and the stands. Finally some activity on the south side.

[caulfield12]

The media added, "No player generates as much advertising revenue as Ohtani ($100 million). According to Sportico's rankings, Bryce Harper of the Philadelphia Phillies recorded the second-highest advertising revenue after Ohtani, but that amount is only $10 million (14.7 billion won)." This is a tenfold difference. Harper is also a superstar representing Major League Baseball, but it has been reaffirmed that Ohtani is the "superstar among superstars."

The Tokyo opening series was, quite literally, a stage for Ohtani, by Ohtani, and for Ohtani. As Edman mentioned earlier, billboards featuring Ohtani's face could be seen anywhere, and Japanese fans, without exception, purchased and wore Ohtani's jersey as well as the Dodgers' blue merchandise.

According to the American economic magazine Forbes, the Dodgers earned $70 million in new sponsorship revenue thanks to Ohtani last year. Furthermore, Ohtani personally has been earning extra money by filming over 20 advertisements across various industries. This is the Ohtani effect that always exceeds expectations."

https://biz.chosun.com/en/en-sports/2025/03/21/MLO53JMFZJDTLF4MOXF2PLFZHE/

Edited Wednesday at 11:37 AM by caulfield12

[caulfield12]

"Prior to signing Ohtani, the Dodgers hired Lorenzo Sciarrino as their senior vice president of global partnerships. The role called for Sciarrino to lead the team’s global sponsorship department, supervising and engineering franchise partnerships with businesses domestically and internationally.

With Ohtani in the fold, Sciarrino’s job was surely made easier as numerous partnership deals were announced early in the year. This included deals with All Nippon Airways, Kinoshita Group, Tsukiji Gindaco (concessions/food/catering), AFEELA, Yakult (milk products), THK, Kosé Corporation (cosmetics/skincare), Daiso, Kowa Company, Ltd. (beverages), and Toyo Tires, among others."   

New Balance/Gatorade

 

https://dodgerblue.com/dodgers-added-70-million-in-sponsorship-revenue-after-signing-shohei-ohtani/2025/01/10/

Kinoshita Group is a prominent Japanese conglomerate involved in construction, real estate, healthcare, and notably, a wide range of arts and sports sponsorships, including major tennis tournaments (Japan Open), figure skating events (Kinoshita Group Cup), film production, and supporting ballet companies like the Paris Opera Ballet and The Royal Ballet School.

https://m.yelp.com/biz/tsukiji-gindaco-los-angeles&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwiyxNTxmtaRAxU1mWoFHaJbHAoQFnoECAIQAg&usg=AOvVaw0my4Rratp89Rw0Ca9tFaKB

Afeela is the brand name for a new electric vehicle (EV) from Sony Honda Mobility, a joint venture combining Sony's tech/entertainment with Honda's auto engineering, aiming for a "mobility partner" experience.

Another day, yet another Japanese corporate marketing agreement with the Dodgers, this time with Tokyo-based machine parts manufacturer THK.

https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-los-angeles-dodgers-and-daiso-enter-into-multi-year-partnership&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwiX6K7Bm9aRAxU8nSYFHfCXCcYQFnoECA4QAg&usg=AOvVaw2435eZRFe8ff7fALiBzDHb

https://www.bevnet.com/news/2025/kowa-builds-u-s-beverage-lineup-with-shohei-ohtani/&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwj0jcrYm9aRAxVXkmoFHf53LPcQFnoECAcQAg&usg=AOvVaw2QdXWJxPey6IUBM_6n6K0-

Edited Wednesday at 12:40 PM by caulfield12

[caulfield12]

https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/reaction-munetaka-murakami-lesson-white-230127540.html

"You have to spend money to make money"

According to Drotto.com, the average primary-market ticket price was $54 (and much higher on the secondary market). That number might even be conservative, but let’s take it at face value.

Multiply $54 by the number of tickets sold at Dodger Stadium in 2025, and you’re looking at over $216.6 million in ticket revenue alone.

That’s more than two-thirds of the Dodgers’ payroll, which sat around $338 million in 2025—and that’s just ticket sales. No TV revenue. No jersey sales. No parking. No food. No beer. No postseason home games during yet another World Series run.

Sometimes, in the baseball business, you have to spend money to make money.

https://www.reddit.com/r/baseball/comments/1imot2w/npb_yakults_munetaka_murakami_has_been_making/&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjn5qyenNaRAxVdmmoFHTpaA6cQFnoECAUQAg&usg=AOvVaw3FFDvLqZLILgC8GxmZ-pD3

Donaiya baseball gloves   switch from Mizuno

https://www.amazon.com/Munetaka-Murakami-Swallows-Japanese-Heavyweight/dp/B0FQPFJD79

https://www.sportsworldchicago.com/munetaka-murakami-chicago-white-sox-alternate-jersey-by-nike/%3Fsrsltid%3DAfmBOoqxeO395j-2FQvSUAWOV5uRQQYdWxnPTgC73OhEEbMAArfFkAtD&sa=U&ved=2ahUKEwjMpqaxntaRAxV0cDwKHROqOP0QFnoECAQQAg&usg=AOvVaw2AhdxIxgq4PIqXD8Lyk4m4

"Within 48 hours of his No. 17 Dodgers jersey going on sale through Fanatics, it became the best-selling sports jersey in history, surpassing Lionel Messi.

A massive contract? Absolutely. Worth every penny? Without question.

Some owners understand this. Others simply don’t."

Edited Wednesday at 12:36 PM by caulfield12

[caulfield12]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/12/mlbtr-podcast-three-way-trade-murakamis-short-term-deal-and-willson-contreras-to-boston.html

25:40-45:00 specifically on Murakami

Fascinating discussion about alteady trading Murakami in 2025 if he has 20+ bombs and striking out less than 30%...how/if that would impact future Japanese FAs. 

Writers not really considering Ishbia money down the line making Chicago a Top 8-10 FA destination.

Both writers still predicting Twins over Sox in 2025 for fourth place...but open to White Sox being more competitive in 2027

Argues the Marlins Pirates Reds will look like idiots....or even the Mets for giving Polanco more money to play 1B.

 

[southsider2k5]

36 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/12/mlbtr-podcast-three-way-trade-murakamis-short-term-deal-and-willson-contreras-to-boston.html

25:40-45:00 specifically on Murakami

Fascinating discussion about alteady trading Murakami in 2025 if he has 20+ bombs and striking out less than 30%...how/if that would impact future Japanese FAs. 

Writers not really considering Ishbia money down the line making Chicago a Top 8-10 FA destination.

Both writers still predicting Twins over Sox in 2025 for fourth place...but open to White Sox being more competitive in 2027

Argues the Marlins Pirates Reds will look like idiots....or even the Mets for giving Polanco more money to play 1B.

 

When the idea was that the Twins were going to finish burning the franchise to the ground this off-season and trading their last few pieces, I would have bet the Sox ahead of the Twins, and said as much.  Now that they have their capital infusion, and aren't in desperate financial straights anymore, that might change.  We will see what the Twins do.

[caulfield12]

4 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

When the idea was that the Twins were going to finish burning the franchise to the ground this off-season and trading their last few pieces, I would have bet the Sox ahead of the Twins, and said as much.  Now that they have their capital infusion, and aren't in desperate financial straights anymore, that might change.  We will see what the Twins do.

It all depends on what they do with Buxton (no trade clause would have to be waived), Ryan and Lopez.

Offensive talent...they might have the edge overall, even with Murakami.

Bullpen was totally gutted, so a bit behind the Sox, who have a deficit in speed/athleticism and defense still.

[pcq]

19 hours ago, pcq said:

Murderer's row. 

The new kid gets double kudos for using English and sending me a check. Maybe he can learn LouBob a few tricks. I would consider extending 88 given his reduced market position. 

[caulfield12]

54 minutes ago, pcq said:

The new kid gets double kudos for using English and sending me a check. Maybe he can learn LouBob a few tricks. I would consider extending 88 given his reduced market position. 

With Boras as his agent?

For what terms?   5/$70 ???

[caulfield12]

https://www.tiktok.com/en/trending/detail/munetaka-murakami-joins-white-sox

[joejoesox]

I'm looking at Murakami's NPB stats vs Ohtani's, I gotta be missing something, is there a reason why Murakami's K rate is so much more alarming than Ohtani's 

In the NPB, Murakami struck out every 3.28 ABs

Ohtani struck out every 3.19 ABs

I think a bigger reason why teams didn't go all in on Murakami is because of his defense/lack of a real position, more than his high strikeout rate. Ohtani can at least fall back on his arm

NPB Stats

I couldn't find their zone contact/whiff stats to compare them

[WestEddy]

6 minutes ago, joejoesox said:

I'm looking at Murakami's NPB stats vs Ohtani's, I gotta be missing something, is there a reason why Murakami's K rate is so much more alarming than Ohtani's 

In the NPB, Murakami struck out every 3.28 ABs

Ohtani struck out every 3.19 ABs

I think a bigger reason why teams didn't go all in on Murakami is because of his defense/lack of a real position, more than his high strikeout rate. Ohtani can at least fall back on his arm

NPB Stats

I couldn't find their zone contact/whiff stats to compare them

I don't know where to find it, but I think Murakami's in zone whiff rate is much higher. 

[joejoesox]

5 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

I don't know where to find it, but I think Murakami's in zone whiff rate is much higher. 

if that's true ("much higher"), it doesn't seem to bear out in any meaningful way in the stats. Ohtani had a 0.016 higher average, lower OBP, lower SLG

Ohtani's K rate in the MLB has increased vs NPB (obviously to be expected)

He strikes out every 3.38 ABs vs every 3.19 ABs in the NPB

Ohtani is below league average in Zone Contact (MLB: 82.5%, Ohtani: 75.9%)

 

Edited Thursday at 05:53 PM by joejoesox

[Timmy U]

43 minutes ago, WestEddy said:

I don't know where to find it, but I think Murakami's in zone whiff rate is much higher. 

Actually very close Ohtani had a 74% in zone contact rate compared to 72% for Mune. Ohtani left the league at a younger age, so not an apples to apples comparison.

[Quin]

There were also plenty of people that (wrongfully) thought Ohtani was going to be bad since he didn't focus on hitting or pitching.

It was unrealistic to expect him to play like an inner circle Hall of Famer, but there were doubters aplenty.

[poppysox]

6 hours ago, Timmy U said:

Actually very close Ohtani had a 74% in zone contact rate compared to 72% for Mune. Ohtani left the league at a younger age, so not an apples to apples comparison.

I am delighted to have a player mentioned in the same breath as Ohtani.😄

[Chick Mercedes]

On 12/23/2025 at 5:10 PM, pcq said:

Murderer's row. 

The next Big Red Machine, speaking of the Reds. Under construction. Getz is now a genius, life comes at you fast.

Edited yesterday at 12:29 AM by Chick Mercedes