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In a major move for their retooling roster, the South Side team have welcomed slugger Munetaka Murakami, agreeing to a $34 million contract bringing in the high-profile player.

Deal Structure and Added Benefits

The agreement features a $1 million signing bonus, to be paid within 30 days, alongside compensation of $16 million for the next season and $17M for the following year.

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

• An additional $1M for earning the MVP award.
• Half a million dollars for finishing in the top three in MVP voting.
• A quarter-million for finishing in the top ten.
• $250,000 for winning the ROY honor.

The contract also stipulates that he cannot be sent to the minors without his approval and makes him a unrestricted player at the conclusion of the contract. Additional perks include a club-supplied interpreter and travel costs between Japan and the U.S..

Compensation and Franchise History

As part of the transaction, Chicago is obligated to provide a posting fee of $6,575,000 to the Swallows, Murakami's longtime team in Japan's Central League. The Swallows are also entitled to a 15% cut of 15% triggered salary escalators.

Murakami is set to become the fourth Japanese-born to suit up for the South Siders, joining pitcher Shingo Takatsu (2004-05), second baseman Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07), and fielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012). Of note, Takatsu was a manager for Murakami while both were in Japan.

Player Profile

Murakami, a left-side batter who turns 26 on February 2nd, joins a promising lineup in Chicago that includes prospects like Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, and Chase Meidroth. The team are coming off a 60-102 season, placing at the bottom in the AL Central but representing a significant improvement from the previous campaign.

The winner of back-to-back league MVP honors in '21 and '22, Murakami is renowned for a monumental 2022 season where he belted 56 HRs, breaking the longstanding record for a Japanese-born player formerly held by icon Sadaharu Oh. That performance also made him the most youthful hitter ever to win Japan's coveted batting Triple Crown.

His 2023 season was limited to just 56 appearances due to an side strain. Despite recording often, he still managed .273 with 22 HRs and 47 RBIs.

Over his eight-season tenure with the Yakult club, Murakami has accumulated a .270 batting average with 246 home runs, 647 RBI, and nearly 1,000 strikeouts in 892 contests. Early in his career playing primarily at first base, he has spent most of his time to third base.

Global Stage Success

Murakami's heroics were on global view during the 2023 World Baseball Classic. In the penultimate game against Mexico, he delivered a walk-off two-base hit that scored Shohei Ohtani and Masataka Yoshida for a come-from-behind one-run win. The following day in the title match against the United States, he hit a equalizing shot in the early innings, helping Japan's 3-2 3-2 victory.

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