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

[southsider2k5]

16 minutes ago, DirtySox said:

They certainly could. But why do you think they would operate any differently until Jerry is out of the picture? I would prepare to not get too attached to Murakami.

I have hope for the Ishbia era based on their actions in Phoenix, but as long as Jerry is the chairman, Walter is in charge.

[joejoesox]

20 hours ago, Autumn Dreamin said:

Mune in uniform for the first time. The inscription on his belt is reportedly his motto since high school:

it's official, Japan is now calling him "Moonie" 

nice work Garfein

[supernuke]

What are the chances of Japanese sponsorship money swaying JR?

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

27 minutes ago, supernuke said:

What are the chances of Japanese sponsorship money swaying JR?

All depends if they think they are backing a winner like any other sponsor and how much income it brings in. It's not just about Murakami. It might be enough to hold onto Murakami into the 2027 season but with the strike looming and the brevity of the contract I'm not convinced commercial time bought on CHSN or luxury suite money or ball park ads will be a substantial enough payout to sway JR into a much bigger contract offer that would prevent Murakami from foregoing free agency. 

[ChiSoxFanMike]

1 hour ago, DirtySox said:

They certainly could. But why do you think they would operate any differently until Jerry is out of the picture? I would prepare to not get too attached to Murakami.

Well Jerry would be out of the picture by the time Murakami’s contract is over if they extend him. And honestly, even if Murakami is good but not great, all the Japanese attention and sponsorships will pay for that contract in no time. I’m just tired of the perpetual rebuild mentality where they ship out anyone worth a damn. Time to start building a winning team.

[DirtySox]

13 minutes ago, ChiSoxFanMike said:

Well Jerry would be out of the picture by the time Murakami’s contract is over if they extend him. And honestly, even if Murakami is good but not great, all the Japanese attention and sponsorships will pay for that contract in no time. I’m just tired of the perpetual rebuild mentality where they ship out anyone worth a damn. Time to start building a winning team.

I'd love to see it. Just hard to see it.

[Lip Man 1]

36 minutes ago, ChiSoxFanMike said:

Well Jerry would be out of the picture by the time Murakami’s contract is over if they extend him. And honestly, even if Murakami is good but not great, all the Japanese attention and sponsorships will pay for that contract in no time. I’m just tired of the perpetual rebuild mentality where they ship out anyone worth a damn. Time to start building a winning team.

They will when Ishbia takes over until then you get "fiscal responsibility" (JR's words) and like it! 😆

[Autumn Dreamin]

Mune's Netflix Japan doc is out tomorrow

[Autumn Dreamin]

Fegan's interview with Mune is really worth a read. Here's an especially fun bit:

https://soxmachine.com/2026/02/munetaka-murakami-wants-everyone-to-see-my-game

Vengeance tour starts Friday:

[ptatc]

6 minutes ago, Autumn Dreamin said:

Fegan's interview with Mune is really worth a read. Here's an especially fun bit:

https://soxmachine.com/2026/02/munetaka-murakami-wants-everyone-to-see-my-game

Vengeance tour starts Friday:

This is awesome. I love the attitude. I have no idea if it will work but it should be a fun ride.

[caulfield12]

4 hours ago, CaliSoxFanViaSWside said:

All depends if they think they are backing a winner like any other sponsor and how much income it brings in. It's not just about Murakami. It might be enough to hold onto Murakami into the 2027 season but with the strike looming and the brevity of the contract I'm not convinced commercial time bought on CHSN or luxury suite money or ball park ads will be a substantial enough payout to sway JR into a much bigger contract offer that would prevent Murakami from foregoing free agency. 

Shohei $100 million plus individually, per season

$75-125 million to the Dodgers from Japanese sponsors

Bryce Harper $10 million individually

<<< $10 million

Although Matsumoto might have surpassed that

 

Or think of it like Eileen Gu to all the US Winter Olympians

$100-125+ million from 2019 to today...individually.

2.3 million young girls in China taking up winter sports

L.Vonn/Chloe Kim/Schiffrin/Stolz etc

$5-7 million each

Edited Wednesday at 11:21 PM by caulfield12

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

34 minutes ago, caulfield12 said:

Shohei $100 million plus individually, per season

$75-125 million to the Dodgers from Japanese sponsors

Bryce Harper $10 million individually

<<< $10 million

Although Matsumoto might have surpassed that

 

Or think of it like Eileen Gu to all the US Winter Olympians

$100-125+ million from 2019 to today...individually.

2.3 million young girls in China taking up winter sports

L.Vonn/Chloe Kim/Schiffrin/Stolz etc

$5-7 million each

None of that negates the points I made which I  thought was accurate given the big picture.

[caulfield12]

10 minutes ago, CaliSoxFanViaSWside said:

None of that negates the points I made which I  thought was accurate given the big picture.

If Mune is anything CLOSE to his NPB level, all bets are off...

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

1 hour ago, caulfield12 said:

If Mune is anything CLOSE to his NPB level, all bets are off...

Not sure what that means. A short term contract does not make Japanese sponsors make long term or high priced committments. 

If Mune goes they go. JR might be negotiating with Japanese sponsors based on if he will actually extend him. But again we're getting ahead of ourselves. 

Even if Mune has a long memory of all who didnt sign him I doubt that would prevent him from taking the highest offer unless the Sox offer is similar if it ever gets to that point. 

[caulfield12]

11 minutes ago, CaliSoxFanViaSWside said:

Not sure what that means. A short term contract does not make Japanese sponsors make long term or high priced committments. 

If Mune goes they go. JR might be negotiating with Japanese sponsors based on if he will actually extend him. But again we're getting ahead of ourselves. 

Even if Mune has a long memory of all who didnt sign him I doubt that would prevent him from taking the highest offer unless the Sox offer is similar if it ever gets to that point. 

I mean a lot of different entities will want to get involved with the Sox at lower price points on sponsorships/advertising/promotions before things really take off.

Hard to be much lower than the Rays and A's in revenue production in a first tier city like Chicago.

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

6 hours ago, ChiSoxFanMike said:

Well Jerry would be out of the picture by the time Murakami’s contract is over if they extend him. And honestly, even if Murakami is good but not great, all the Japanese attention and sponsorships will pay for that contract in no time. I’m just tired of the perpetual rebuild mentality where they ship out anyone worth a damn. Time to start building a winning team.

Understandable how you feel but JR has never put the cart ahead of the horse. He needs the money to spend the money. Simple old fashioned economics and that was when he wasnt all that concerned about his sons inheriting debt. It's a much different time in his life now. 

[Autumn Dreamin]

FWIW re: sponsorships, in addition to that reported "third party" interest in helping with the clubhouse bidet situation, Boyer has already been to court sponsors, distribution partners, etc. in Japan and talked about a goal of "expanding the brand" there.

Peaking into Japanese baseball Twitter/media gives a bit of insight into how popular Mune is, and having the Sox logo next to his face on newspaper front pages is an asset that's easy to see the value of.

The short term deal made sense for both sides with how the market shook out, but if his game translates to MLB then I do think a good faith effort to extend him is likelier than not.

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

Matt Davidson who played against Murakami talks about him.

[CaliSoxFanViaSWside]

13 hours ago, Autumn Dreamin said:

FWIW re: sponsorships, in addition to that reported "third party" interest in helping with the clubhouse bidet situation, Boyer has already been to court sponsors, distribution partners, etc. in Japan and talked about a goal of "expanding the brand" there.

Peaking into Japanese baseball Twitter/media gives a bit of insight into how popular Mune is, and having the Sox logo next to his face on newspaper front pages is an asset that's easy to see the value of.

The short term deal made sense for both sides with how the market shook out, but if his game translates to MLB then I do think a good faith effort to extend him is likelier than not.

Yes of course but we 're a long way from that. 3 thing need to happen.

1. Mune has to do well. First and foremost.

2.Mune has to be open to an extension or give the Sox a chance to match any offer he gets whichever situation arises.

3. An honest effort to have him be a part of the core and put a better team around him in order to continue to build a longer term and more lucrative relationship with Japanese players and sponsors. 

3 could come in different ways considering that ownership is in a transitory state and it may require the kind of contracts that JR has never given out not only to Murakami but to starting pitchers if that turns out to be the teams biggest weakness in 2 years. Also the team could be in JR's sons hands if JR passes which could complicate signing players while also complicating the sale to the Ishbias. 

JR has always said keep the Bulls sell the Sox but he's also said that if he's gone that decision is up to his sons.

I dont want to put odds on all 3 things going smoothly but I'd put it at less than 50/50 and maybe as low as a 25% chance. 

 There's a slight chance of Ishbia becoming a factor in helping these things happen but that's something I hesitate to mention because right now it's so remote. 

Oh one more monkey wrench to consider is how the CBA is resolved and if a good portion of the 2027 season is lost to a lockout. Nothing to sponsor if the player isn't playing because there are no games. If Murakami already had a contract for beyond the 2027 season this would not be too much of a factor.

Edited Thursday at 04:48 PM by CaliSoxFanViaSWside

[ptatc]

19 minutes ago, CaliSoxFanViaSWside said:

Yes of course but we 're a long way from that. 3 thing need to happen.

1. Mune has to do well. First and foremost.

2.Mune has to be open to an extension or give the Sox a chance to match any offer he gets whichever situation arises.

3. An honest effort to have him be a part of the core and put a better team around him in order to continue to build a longer term and more lucrative relationship with Japanese players and sponsors. 

3 could come in different ways considering that ownership is in a transitory state and it may require the kind of contracts that JR has never given out not only to Murakami but to starting pitchers if that turns out to be the teams biggest weakness in 2 years. Also the team could be in JR's sons hands if JR passes which could complicate signing players while also complicating the sale to the Ishbias. 

JR has always said keep the Bulls sell the Sox but he's also said that if he's gone that decision is up to his sons.

I dont want to put odds on all 3 things going smoothly but I'd put it at less than 50/50 and maybe as low as a 25% chance. 

 There's a slight chance of Ishbia becoming a factor in helping these things happen but that's something I hesitate to mention because right now it's so remote. 

JR has also said he wants to be there for the 100th anniversary of the 1933 All Star game. Which makes it 2033.

[Autumn Dreamin]

[Dick Allen]

Looks like at least one of the Ishbia's hates tanking, at least in the NBA. Hope they have the same attitude when JR hands over the keys.

 

Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia sounded off on the issue of tanking in the NBA, calling it a "losing behavior done by losers" and "much worse than any prop bet scandal."

[WhiteSox2023]

3 minutes ago, Dick Allen said:

Looks like at least one of the Ishbia's hates tanking, at least in the NBA. Hope they have the same attitude when JR hands over the keys.

 

Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia sounded off on the issue of tanking in the NBA, calling it a "losing behavior done by losers" and "much worse than any prop bet scandal."

As long as their mantra isn’t that coming in second place is great.  😌 

[southsider2k5]

5 minutes ago, Dick Allen said:

Looks like at least one of the Ishbia's hates tanking, at least in the NBA. Hope they have the same attitude when JR hands over the keys.

 

Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia sounded off on the issue of tanking in the NBA, calling it a "losing behavior done by losers" and "much worse than any prop bet scandal."

[caulfield12]

19 minutes ago, Dick Allen said:

Looks like at least one of the Ishbia's hates tanking, at least in the NBA. Hope they have the same attitude when JR hands over the keys.

 

Phoenix Suns owner Mat Ishbia sounded off on the issue of tanking in the NBA, calling it a "losing behavior done by losers" and "much worse than any prop bet scandal."

A lot of Izzo in that quote...