Reinsdorf paid for two three peat NBA championship teams. Manny Machado did not look like he was worth it. Doesn't mean that JR was cheap. Manny hasn't been on a team that won a WS. He is currently signed for something like $350 Million. I'm glad he wasn't signed for that much. IMO, Manny does not look like a team player and even looks bored out there at times. Maybe the mega millions spoiled him. Now I'd rather have Mune and the rest of the current White Sox including gamers like Vargas, Antonacci, Montgomery, Teel, Davis Burke and Schultz. This is a team sport and we have the team this year. Go Sox and Sox fans everywhere. I'm seeing more Sox hats and jerseys out there. We are proud of this team and love #5.

6 minutes ago, Tony said:

Feels like this is actually pretty big news. "There are conversations happening" between the Sox and Murakami's camp re: extension already? I wouldn't have expected the Sox to be willing so soon

Sounds like he really likes Chicago. Who knows, maybe he'll give us a hometown discount. Can't hurt to engage.

9 minutes ago, Tony said:

The phrases used in this were crazy. "stumbled into"... "no longer need to be convinced"

25 minutes ago, Jose Abreu said:

Feels like this is actually pretty big news. "There are conversations happening" between the Sox and Murakami's camp re: extension already? I wouldn't have expected the Sox to be willing so soon

I took this as there were conversations happening internally, not with Murakami's camp. Why would Murakami sign for 4 years and 100 million? It's amazing that somehow people think that's a big deal for Reinsdorf... embarrassing really.

7 minutes ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

I took this as there were conversations happening internally, not with Murakami's camp. Why would Murakami sign for 4 years and 100 million? It's amazing that somehow people think that's a big deal for Reinsdorf... embarrassing really.

Schwarber signed for 5/150 at 33. That's probably the floor for Murakami. He's gonna want more years or higher AAV than that, or both.

8 minutes ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

I took this as there were conversations happening internally, not with Murakami's camp. Why would Murakami sign for 4 years and 100 million? It's amazing that somehow people think that's a big deal for Reinsdorf... embarrassing really.

It is embarrassing but also a big deal. Assuming that report is legit, it’s noteworthy that Jerry would even be willing to give $100 million to him.

6 minutes ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

I took this as there were conversations happening internally, not with Murakami's camp. Why would Murakami sign for 4 years and 100 million? It's amazing that somehow people think that's a big deal for Reinsdorf... embarrassing really.

I took it differently because immediately after acknowledging that he wouldn't sign for 4/100 (which I agree is a ridiculous bargain), he immediately followed it up with "I was told that there are conversations happening."

Specifically, the quote of "I have this on very good authority, that the White Sox have realized internally in that organization what they've stumbled into... they are very willing to commit if they could, now it's just a matter of actually doing it" would imply to me that the "conversations" are not just internal, because if they're already willing to commit, why wouldn't they engage Murakami's camp to see what his price is?

Do it.

Colson too.

5 minutes ago, almagest said:

Schwarber signed for 5/150 at 33. That's probably the floor for Murakami. He's gonna want more years or higher AAV than that, or both.

I agree that this is the floor, in the event that he were willing to take a deal that slightly undervalues his current production for longer term security.

Vlad Jr. signed an extension that kicked in for his age 27 season (which would be next year for Mune), and he got $500M over 14 years, roughly $36M AAV. If I'm Murakami, I don't see why I would accept an extension for a penny less than $36M AAV. I doubt either party wants the 14 years, but 6/215 would roughly align to that.

Edited Tuesday at 08:26 PM1 day by Jose Abreu

They need to get this done

22 minutes ago, Look at Ray Ray Run said:

I took this as there were conversations happening internally, not with Murakami's camp. Why would Murakami sign for 4 years and 100 million? It's amazing that somehow people think that's a big deal for Reinsdorf... embarrassing really.

The interviewer did say that later. He's got to be thinking of that $300 million deal he was expected to get last off season. After this deal he will be 27 going on 28. If he hits like this the rest of the year, he HAS to be thinking of an 8 to 10 year deal instead of of a four year deal that makes his second bite at the apple at 31.

11 minutes ago, DirtySox said:

Do it.

Colson too.

Colson is probably easier to get done early, as there is a lot more of his time that is in a pretty narrow band of control and expected wages. The camps for Mune and the Sox are going to be looking at this in two very different ways, where as Colson has a pretty clear set of road maps with all of the early extensions recently signed.

19 minutes ago, Jose Abreu said:

I took it differently because immediately after acknowledging that he wouldn't sign for 4/100 (which I agree is a ridiculous bargain), he immediately followed it up with "I was told that there are conversations happening."

Specifically, the quote of "I have this on very good authority, that the White Sox have realized internally in that organization what they've stumbled into... they are very willing to commit if they could, now it's just a matter of actually doing it" would imply to me that the "conversations" are not just internal, because if they're already willing to commit, why wouldn't they engage Murakami's camp to see what his price is?

This was crazy to hear said outloud.

56 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

The phrases used in this were crazy. "stumbled into"... "no longer need to be convinced"

I don't think it's that crazy at all.

It's clear a lot of people were wrong on Murakami. The Sox aren't signing Murakami if the Padres, Mets, Angles decide to go 4/100 last offseason on Murakami. No one wanted to make a serious commitment, and the Sox came in and (in theory) offered the best deal. And credit to the Sox for making the move. But they aren't in the discussion if other teams had better scouting departments. "Stumbled into" seems pretty accurate.

7 minutes ago, Tony said:

I don't think it's that crazy at all.

It's clear a lot of people were wrong on Murakami. The Sox aren't signing Murakami if the Padres, Mets, Angles decide to go 4/100 last offseason on Murakami. No one wanted to make a serious commitment, and the Sox came in and (in theory) offered the best deal. And credit to the Sox for making the move. But they aren't in the discussion if other teams had better scouting departments. "Stumbled into" seems pretty accurate.

Gotta love that the best move this organization has made in a really long time was a complete accident.

Hope he keeps it up. He obviously still has an incredibly risky profile.

8 minutes ago, Tony said:

I don't think it's that crazy at all.

It's clear a lot of people were wrong on Murakami. The Sox aren't signing Murakami if the Padres, Mets, Angles decide to go 4/100 last offseason on Murakami. No one wanted to make a serious commitment, and the Sox came in and (in theory) offered the best deal. And credit to the Sox for making the move. But they aren't in the discussion if other teams had better scouting departments. "Stumbled into" seems pretty accurate.

The impression I had is that if the guy wasn't going to get his long term deal, he wanted something shorter term as a prove it deal. I don't think a four year deal would have gotten it done. It was either going to be a year, or two, with a return to free agency, or it was going to be one of those 6-8 year deals.

10 minutes ago, Tony said:

I don't think it's that crazy at all.

It's clear a lot of people were wrong on Murakami. The Sox aren't signing Murakami if the Padres, Mets, Angles decide to go 4/100 last offseason on Murakami. No one wanted to make a serious commitment, and the Sox came in and (in theory) offered the best deal. And credit to the Sox for making the move. But they aren't in the discussion if other teams had better scouting departments. "Stumbled into" seems pretty accurate.

I thought I read/heard somewhere that the Sox weren't the best offer but he went here because the deal was shorter and he could bet on himself, which to me, says he's not going to be taking a "hometown discount" and is looking to get a market contract in 2 years.

2 minutes ago, T R U said:

I thought I read/heard somewhere that the Sox weren't the best offer but he went here because the deal was shorter and he could bet on himself, which to me, says he's not going to be taking a "hometown discount" and is looking to get a market contract in 2 years.

I remember the same thing. He didn't want a mid term deal. It was either a home run, or he wanted something short to prove himself. Pretty sure I remember reading a couple of different teams say they had higher bids out there.

1 hour ago, tray said:

Reinsdorf paid for two three peat NBA championship teams. Manny Machado did not look like he was worth it. Doesn't mean that JR was cheap. Manny hasn't been on a team that won a WS. He is currently signed for something like $350 Million. I'm glad he wasn't signed for that much. IMO, Manny does not look like a team player and even looks bored out there at times. Maybe the mega millions spoiled him. Now I'd rather have Mune and the rest of the current White Sox including gamers like Vargas, Antonacci, Montgomery, Teel, Davis Burke and Schultz. This is a team sport and we have the team this year. Go Sox and Sox fans everywhere. I'm seeing more Sox hats and jerseys out there. We are proud of this team and love #5.

Your comments about Machado are after the fact with the benefit of hindsight. At the time, he was a 4x All-Star, 3x Silver Slugger, and 2x Gold Glove SS/3B hitting free agency at the young age of 26. He also had amassed 35 bWAR at that point in his career. So yes, he did look like he was worth it.

What about Harper?

4 minutes ago, WhiteSox2023 said:

Your comments about Machado are after the fact with the benefit of hindsight. At the time, he was a 4x All-Star, 3x Silver Slugger, and 2x Gold Glove SS/3B hitting free agency at the young age of 26. He also had amassed 35 bWAR at that point in his career. So yes, he did look like he was worth it.

What about Harper?

Guys been worth 27+ WAR and san Diego. Not sure how that's a bad signing anyway.

1 hour ago, southsider2k5 said:

The phrases used in this were crazy. "stumbled into"... "no longer need to be convinced"

I’m shocked that Jerry would be willing to commit to a massive hometown discount (4/$100-112 million) that would still make him and the team way more money than they are giving to a Murakami, just on the marketing alone. 🤣

16 minutes ago, southsider2k5 said:

The impression I had is that if the guy wasn't going to get his long term deal, he wanted something shorter term as a prove it deal. I don't think a four year deal would have gotten it done. It was either going to be a year, or two, with a return to free agency, or it was going to be one of those 6-8 year deals.

But that's the point. No one wanted to offer him a long term deal. And it would stand to reason that if you told executives that on May 5th of the 2026 season, Murakami would be leading the league in HR's, there would have been some much larger commitments on the table for him, just like we're talking about now with our team.

Aside from Belle, The Sox have never won a bidding war for a top tier free agent. And Jerry's spending habits have gotten worse over the years, not better. And maybe I'm misremembering things, but it didn't seem like the Sox were in on Murakami right from the start...it started to pick up steam quickly once it seemed like the big dogs weren't going to be players, and his reps started to pivot to secondary options. That's when the Sox came into play, and when apparently Brooks had to convince Jerry to make the investment.

Again, I think it's fair to say the Sox had a lot of things bounce their way, things that weren't totally in their control, for Murakami to end up on the Sox. All good, but now they have him, ideally they need to find a way to keep him. And that doesn't have to happen tomorrow. But if this is the real Murakami, letting him walk at age 28 would be a crime.

Believe me or not, I don’t care. Bookmark this tweet.

I have a friend who works at a very senior position in an MLB front office. They have confirmed to me that they AND the vast majority of teams in the league have reached out to the #WhiteSox to inquire about trading for Munetaka Murakami…

The Sox have made it clear to everyone in the league that even if they have a catastrophic fall off, Mune will not be available for trade this season. He is, for all intents and purposes, untouchable.

FURTHERMORE… the league-wide belief is that the White Sox ARE in fact currently trying to extend Mune. Whether or not they can come to an agreement remains to be seen, but Chicago wants to make him the first $100M player in team history, and a the consensus seems to be that a 4 year extension with an AAV in the vicinity of Kyle Schwarber has likely already been offered.

Mune is playing his pants off and, given his age and international draw, his reps have likely advised him to hold off. My friend cannot confirm what the contract will look like, if it even happens. But he is far more likely to be extended than traded.

Nothing is guaranteed. But the Sox plan on pushing to compete this year AND next with him at the center of their roster and a real effort is being made to keep him in Chicago well into the Ishbia era.

Great, great news for Munetaka Murakami and the Southsiders.

Edited Tuesday at 09:25 PM1 day by DoUEvenShift