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

[tray]

Can't wait to get my Murakami jersey  and for Opening Day !

[Bob Sacamano]

20 minutes ago, tray said:

Thank you. Not sure that means that JR would not have signed him anyway though. 

I think it does. 

[WhiteSox2023]

4 minutes ago, Bob Sacamano said:

I think it does. 

From Getz’s quote, it sure sounds like Boyer helped convince Jerry to pay for Murakami because the Japanese marketing money and future influence on Japanese players would be the additional return.  At least Brooks finally did something positive recently rather than pissing off Sox fans.  🤣

Edited December 30, 2025 by WhiteSox2023

[fathom]

57 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

From Getz’s quote, it sure sounds like Boyer helped convince Jerry to pay for Murakami because the Japanese marketing money and future influence on Japanese players would be the additional return.  At least Brooks finally did something positive recently rather than pissing off Sox fans.  🤣

Yep, sounds like Boyer did a lot of the heavy lifting 

[Kyyle23]

40+ years into ownership, enduring 3 of the worst seasons for this franchise in a row, and refuses to look at it as a team building expense but rather “can I market this y/n”

🥴

[tray]

2 hours ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

From Getz’s quote, it sure sounds like Boyer helped convince Jerry to pay for Murakami because the Japanese marketing money and future influence on Japanese players would be the additional return.  At least Brooks finally did something positive recently rather than pissing off Sox fans.  🤣

 

Edited December 31, 2025 by tray

[tray]

1 minute ago, tray said:

No, just no. This is a meme that some who feel that JR is inherently"cheap" have been putting out there. It plays into what I think is an unnecessary and  terrible stereotype. Of course Getz/Boyer/Reinsdorf all knew that the WSox will sell more jerseys and possibly more tickets... so what?  It is ridiculous to presume that  the main reason that the Sox signed Murakami was future promotional considerations,,,and the reverse... that without additional promotional money, the "cheap" biliionaire CEO would not have signed him. I mean, Jesus.. how cynical have some fans gotten?  Just give credit to Reinsdorf and Getz for signing this guy. 

 

[WhiteSox2023]

18 minutes ago, tray said:

 

The Sox currently have the smallest largest contract in the MLB.  Call that what you want, but you shouldn’t be surprised when some Sox fans call it being cheap.

We also have a direct quote from Getz regarding how Brooks Boyer was involved in talking up the marketing potential to get the Murakami signing to the finish line.  I don’t believe that anyone said that Jerry was completely clueless to this marketing potential but we all remember his comments on Ohtani.

Finally, if Murakami’s market was truly $150+ million as was initially estimated as opposed to signing for $34 million, do you honestly believe he would be a White Sox right now?

[Bob Sacamano]

47 minutes ago, tray said:

 

Ok. Jerry Reinsdorf isn’t cheap. Sounds good.

[Bob Sacamano]

1 hour ago, Bob Sacamano said:

Ok. Jerry Reinsdorf isn’t cheap. Sounds good.

For real though, we live in a world where one person thinks he isn’t cheap and the rest of us are the crazy ones lol

[southsider2k5]

46 minutes ago, Bob Sacamano said:

For real though, we live in a world where one person thinks he isn’t cheap and the rest of us are the crazy ones lol

Look, I know you wanted caviar, but I got this expired ground chuck that is just as good at like 5% of the cost... now where is my love?

[tray]

There is an old saying..."Be careful what you wish for." 

Is Ishbia cheap as well ? Is he really a White Sox fan ? Oh, is that why he pulled his Private Equity Investment in the Twins and instead purchased White Sox shares ?  Or was that part and parcel of the typical PEI leveraged buyout formula?

Ishbia remains silent and is just paying down debt right now, right?  Really? corporate debt is part of the strategy used by PEI firms over and again.  

 "A leveraged buyout is a strategy in which a private equity firm finances its acquisition of a company using debt secured by the company it is acquiring rather than using its capital or taking on the debt itself. This tactic saddles private equity-owned companies with substantial debt, often draining resources that could otherwise be invested in innovation, workforce development, or adapting to market changes. Instead, firms under private equity ownership must channel much of their revenue toward servicing this debt, leaving them vulnerable to financial distress and bankruptcy. Bankruptcies are a key bellwether signaling the broader risks associated with private equity investments."

https://pestakeholder.org/news/private-equity-behind-70-of-large-u-s-bankruptcies-in-the-first-quarter-of-2025/

Also, imagine what is ahead for Walgreens now that is has been taken over by a Private Equity firm that financed 70% of it deal through debt...with little or no skin in the game.

https://medcitynews.com/2025/09/walgreens-private-equity-sale/

Meanwhile, did Ishbia offer one cent capital to the WSox corporation for acquiring Murakami or to be used to fortify the 2026 White Sox roster?  We know he has money to spend and that he spends a lot of it on his own Winnetka estate. And what does he say about Murakami, or about anything related to the White Sox. What's with the Wizard of Oz BS ? 

As a Sox fan, I want the team to win now or at least in the next 2-3 years. If that gets Jerry another ring, fine by me. Count me out of the group that puts some kind of baseless faith in a silent private equity investor. He is in it for money.  Ishbia could give 2 chits about the WSox or WSox fans, never has, never will.  His silence now, even with the fan excitement over the Murakami signing, is proof positive of that. 

 

 

 

[Kyyle23]

Everyone get their notebooks and pencils, “Private Equity 102” has begun.  In this class you will learn that calling Jerry cheap is actually a stereotype but you will also learn that you don’t know anything about Ishbia.  But Tray knows.  And it’s bad 

[Chicago White Sox]

56 minutes ago, Kyyle23 said:

Everyone get their notebooks and pencils, “Private Equity 102” has begun.  In this class you will learn that calling Jerry cheap is actually a stereotype but you will also learn that you don’t know anything about Ishbia.  But Tray knows.  And it’s bad 

The sad part is that Tray’s extremely dumb, long-winded rant should never of happened in the first place if he put any rationale into this and realized the Ishbia’s are purchasing the Sox with their own personal wealth and not buying it through Justin’s private equity firm.  As such, the “leveraged buyout playbook” theory holds no meaning whatsoever and the accusation makes Tray look like an ever bigger clown.

[Ducksnort]

So, they need to get Blue Moon as a sponsor, put a literal moon somewhere on the concourse, and every time Mune hits a bomb its called a "moon" shot and the moon lights up or something.

Edited December 31, 2025 by Ducksnort

[poppysox]

2 minutes ago, Ducksnort said:

So, they need to get Blue Moon as a sponsor, put a literal moon somewhere on the concourse, and every time Mune hits a bomb its called a "moon" shot and the moon lights up or something.

Great idea!😁

[Chicago White Sox]

8 minutes ago, Ducksnort said:

So, they need to get Blue Moon as a sponsor, put a literal moon somewhere on the concourse, and every time Mune hits a bomb its called a "moon" shot and the moon lights up or something.

Email Brooks about this:

[email protected]

[southsider2k5]

2 hours ago, Kyyle23 said:

Everyone get their notebooks and pencils, “Private Equity 102” has begun.  In this class you will learn that calling Jerry cheap is actually a stereotype but you will also learn that you don’t know anything about Ishbia.  But Tray knows.  And it’s bad 

Wait until 201 when you learn Jerry was the definition of a Private Equity guy himself. 

[Ducksnort]

1 hour ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Email Brooks about this:

[email protected]

Thanks, Just did! We'll see if it goes anywhere lol.

[WhiteSox2023]

3 hours ago, Chicago White Sox said:

The sad part is that Tray’s extremely dumb, long-winded rant should never of happened in the first place if he put any rationale into this and realized the Ishbia’s are purchasing the Sox with their own personal wealth and not buying it through Justin’s private equity firm.  As such, the “leveraged buyout playbook” theory holds no meaning whatsoever and the accusation makes Tray look like an ever bigger clown.

But the Ishbia’s didn’t publicly show their excitement over the Murakami signing so that means they hate the White Sox and their fans.

I love how he also thinks that they should be assisting poor old Reinsdorf with a $34 million dollar signing when they don’t own the team yet, as if Jerry is broke.  What a joke.  Tray suddenly thinks Jerry is a big spender because the Sox signed a dude for $34 million.  🤣

Edited December 31, 2025 by WhiteSox2023

[DoUEvenShift]

2 hours ago, Ducksnort said:

So, they need to get Blue Moon as a sponsor, put a literal moon somewhere on the concourse, and every time Mune hits a bomb its called a "moon" shot and the moon lights up or something.

And gotta blare Ozzy over the PA system

 

[Bob Sacamano]

1 hour ago, Chicago White Sox said:

Email Brooks about this:

[email protected]

Let’s all email him and tell him to bug JR even more about signing Imai.

[Lukakke Appling]

I can’t recall actually hearing Mune said out loud. Reading the above I’m guessing it’s pronounced “moon”? Or is it moonay? Moonee? 
 

If it’s pronounced Moon you’ve gotta play Michael Jackson for every Moon walk. 

[Ducksnort]

26 minutes ago, Lukakke Appling said:

I can’t recall actually hearing Mune said out loud. Reading the above I’m guessing it’s pronounced “moon”? Or is it moonay? Moonee? 
 

If it’s pronounced Moon you’ve gotta play Michael Jackson for every Moon walk. 

Garfein asked that question on his podcast and apparently it's "Moonay".

[joejoesox]

49 minutes ago, Lukakke Appling said:

I can’t recall actually hearing Mune said out loud. Reading the above I’m guessing it’s pronounced “moon”? Or is it moonay? Moonee? 
 

If it’s pronounced Moon you’ve gotta play Michael Jackson for every Moon walk. 

moo-nay

vowels in Japanese always have just one pronunciation 

A=ah

E=eh

I=Eee

O=Oh

U=ooh