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In a notable move for their retooling roster, the Chicago White Sox have signed Japanese star Munetaka Murakami, agreeing to a two-year contract with the accomplished player.

Deal Structure and Incentives

The agreement includes a $1 million signing bonus, issued within 30 days, in addition to salaries of sixteen million for the next season and seventeen million for the 2027 year.

Additionally, Murakami's final-year pay can increase based on award achievements in 2026:

• $1 million for earning the Most Valuable Player award.
• $500,000 for placing as runner-up or in third place in MVP voting.
• A quarter-million for ranking in the top ten.
• An identical bonus for winning the top rookie honor.

The contract provides that he cannot be assigned to the farm system without his consent and allows him to become a unrestricted player at the end of the deal. Further benefits include a club-supplied interpreter and flight reimbursement between Japan and the U.S..

Transfer Payment and Franchise History

As part of the transaction, Chicago must pay a posting fee of $6,575,000 to the Yakult Swallows, Murakami's former team in Japan's professional league. The Japanese club get a additional payment of 15% triggered incentive payments.

Murakami is set to become the fourth player from Japan to play for the South Siders, joining reliever Shingo Takatsu (2004-05), second baseman Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07), and fielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012). Of note, Takatsu previously coached Murakami while both were in Japan.

On-Field Accomplishments

Murakami, a left-side batter who will turn 26 on February 2nd, joins a promising core of hitters in Chicago that also features prospects like Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, and Chase Meidroth. The club are coming off a last-place season, placing last in the AL Central but representing a notable improvement from the year before campaign.

The winner of back-to-back league MVP honors in 2021 and 2022, Murakami made history with a monumental 2022 season where he hit 56 homers, surpassing the single-season record for a NPB hitter formerly held by icon Sadaharu Oh. That year also made him the most youthful hitter ever to secure Japan's elusive Triple Crown.

His 2023 season was curtailed to a partial schedule due to an side strain. Despite fanning 64 Ks, he batted .273 with 22 homers and 47 RBIs.

Over his eight-season tenure with the Swallows, Murakami has compiled a .270 lifetime batting average with 246 home runs, 647 runs batted in, and 977 strikeouts in 892 games. Early in his career playing primarily at first, he has more recently played to third.

Global Stage Success

Murakami's heroics were on full display during the 2023 WBC. In the semi-final against Mexico, he hit a victory-sealing two-base hit that drove in Shohei Ohtani and Masataka Yoshida for a come-from-behind one-run win. The very next day in the final against the USA, he slugged a tying homer in the second inning, paving the way for Japan's subsequent title triumph.

The new White Sox addition is set to be unveiled at a introductory event on Monday.