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In a significant move for their retooling roster, the American League club have officially added Japanese star Munetaka Murakami, agreeing to a $34 million contract for the power-hitting player.

Contract Details and Incentives

The contract grants a seven-figure signing bonus, to be paid within 30 days, combined with compensation of $16 million for the next season and seventeen million for the final year.

Additionally, Murakami's final-year pay is subject to escalators based on accolade achievements in 2026:

• $1 million for winning the league MVP award.
• $500K for placing as runner-up or in third place in MVP voting.
• $250K for ranking between fourth and tenth.
• An identical bonus for being named the ROY honor.

His deal also stipulates that he cannot be sent to the minor leagues without his approval and makes him a unrestricted player at the end of the contract. Extra provisions include a club-supplied interpreter and flight reimbursement between his home country and the States.

Transfer Payment and Franchise History

As part of the acquisition, Chicago owes a compensation payment of $6,575,000 to the Yakult Swallows, Murakami's former team in Japan's professional league. The Japanese club are also entitled to a supplemental fee of fifteen percent triggered incentive payments.

Murakami is set to become the fourth Japanese-born to play for the Chicago franchise, following reliever Shingo Takatsu (2004-05), infielder Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07), and outfielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012). Notably, Takatsu was a manager for Murakami during their time in Japan.

Career Highlights

Murakami, a lefty bat who will turn 26 in February, bolsters a promising lineup in Chicago that also features prospects like Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, and Chase Meidroth. The club are finished with a last-place season, placing at the bottom in the division but representing a notable improvement from the previous campaign.

A two-time league MVP honors in consecutive seasons, Murakami made history with a monumental 2022 season where he launched 56 homers, eclipsing the single-season record for a NPB hitter previously held by legend Sadaharu Oh. That feat also made him the most youthful hitter ever to secure Japan's elusive batting Triple Crown.

His most recent NPB campaign was curtailed to 56 games due to an muscle issue. Even with striking out often, he still managed .273 with 22 HRs and 47 runs batted in.

Over his eight-year tenure with the Yakult club, Murakami has accumulated a .270 lifetime batting average with 246 home runs, 647 runs batted in, and 977 Ks in nearly 900 games. Initially playing primarily at first, he has more recently played to third base.

International Pedigree

Murakami's heroics were on full display during the 2023 WBC. In the penultimate game against Mexico, he hit a game-ending double that scored Shohei Ohtani and Masataka Yoshida for a thrilling one-run win. The next night in the championship game against the United States, he blasted a game-tying home run in the second inning, helping Japan's eventual title triumph.

The power hitter is slated to be unveiled at a introductory event on the coming Monday.