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In a notable move for their overhauling roster, the American League club have officially added Japanese star Munetaka Murakami, completing a $34 million contract for the high-profile player.

Financial Terms and Added Benefits

The deal features a seven-figure signing bonus, payable within 30 days, combined with annual pay of $16M for the next season and $17 million for the 2027 year.

Importantly, Murakami's 2027 salary may grow based on accolade achievements in 2026:

• $1 million for winning the MVP award.
• Half a million dollars for placing in the top three in MVP voting.
• $250K for ranking in the top ten.
• An identical bonus for winning the ROY honor.

The agreement includes that he cannot be sent to the minors without his permission and allows him to become a free agent at the termination of the contract. Additional perks include a team-provided interpreter and airfare between the U.S. and Japan.

Compensation and Historical Context

As part of the signing, Chicago is obligated to provide a posting fee of $6,575,000 to the Yakult Swallows, Murakami's previous team in Japan's Central League. The Swallows are also entitled to a supplemental fee of any triggered salary escalators.

Murakami is set to become the fourth Japanese to represent the White Sox, following reliever Shingo Takatsu (2004-05), infielder Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07), and fielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012). Of note, Takatsu once managed Murakami while both were in Japan.

Player Profile

Murakami, a lefty bat who will turn 26 on February 2nd, joins a promising core of hitters in Chicago that contains prospects like Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, and Chase Meidroth. The White Sox are finished with a last-place season, placing last in the division but representing a 19-game improvement from the previous campaign.

A two-time Most Valuable Player honors in '21 and '22, Murakami is famous for a monumental 2022 season where he launched 56 home runs, surpassing the longstanding record for a NPB hitter previously held by icon Sadaharu Oh. That performance also made him the most youthful hitter ever to achieve Japan's elusive Triple Crown.

His last year was shortened to just 56 appearances due to an oblique injury. Even with fanning 64 Ks, he batted .273 with 22 homers and 47 runs batted in.

Over his career tenure with the Swallows, Murakami has posted a .270 career batting average with 246 home runs, 647 RBI, and nearly 1,000 strikeouts in nearly 900 games. He started playing mostly at first base, he has since transitioned to the hot corner.

WBC Heroics

Murakami's big-game performance were on center stage during the last World Baseball Classic. In the semifinal against Mexico, he drove in a walk-off two-base hit that drove in two fellow Japanese stars for a come-from-behind 6-5 win. The next night in the title match against the Team USA, he slugged a game-tying home run in the second inning, setting the stage for Japan's 3-2 championship win.

The power hitter is slated to be unveiled at a press conference on the coming Monday.