Murakami’s two-year, $34 million contract with the White Sox is significantly shorter and worth less annually than left fielder Masataka Yoshida’s five-year, $90 million contract with the Red Sox three years ago (five years, $90 million). Since Yoshida’s power hasn’t translated to the majors as expected, is the industry now more skeptical of NPB hitters?
I don’t know if the industry has become skeptical of NPB sluggers; This seems more to me like teams are being a little more cautious with the type of hitter Murakami is. Yoshida was an elite contact man with a high average (.326) and an excellent on-base percentage (.419) during his seven years in Japan. Yoshida got a much longer deal with a slightly higher annual value, although many at the time thought it was an excessive payment on Boston’s part.
Murakami has elite power that most MLB talent evaluators believe will translate here, although there is concern about his strikeouts and how that could worsen with the pitchers he’ll face now. He has a two-year chance to prove he can do it. Murakami had longer offers with lower average annual values, but he decided to go with the two-year contract and bet on himself.
The White Sox weren’t necessarily on anyone’s radar as a favorite to sign Murakami, but given the direction the team appears to be going, this makes sense. Where does Murakami fit on a young White Sox roster?
The White Sox are in a position that many contenders aren’t, namely that they can afford to take a risk on a high-risk, high-reward player like Murakami. If he strikes out twice a game during the first month of the season, there won’t be the pressure to sit him out that would come with playing for a contender with high expectations. Chicago can give Murakami time to figure things out, and if he does, the White Sox will have a critical piece for the future or a prime candidate for a trade.
Would this indicate that the White Sox might not be finished strengthening their roster?
I don’t think this is the end of Chicago’s moves this offseason. Having added a much-needed power bat in Murakami, the White Sox are now focused on adding pitching, both in the rotation and in the bullpen. They’re unlikely to be in the market for star starters like Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez and Tatsuya Imai, but there are several arms available for Chicago to pursue.
What could this mean for Kazuma Okamoto, whose signing deadline is January 4? At 29, he’s older than the 25-year-old Murakami, but his power numbers in NPB have been consistent since he arrived in the league in 2018. Is he also looking for a shorter contract?
Okamoto is likely seeking a shorter deal than the five years Yoshida signed, although he is considered a more polished hitter than Murakami, which makes sense given that he is three years older. I wouldn’t be surprised if Okamoto could find a four- or five-year deal with one or two buyout clauses, possibly from a team looking to add an impact bat and not involving players like Kyle Tucker, Cody Bellinger, Alex Bregman or Bo Bichette. Could a team like the Pirates or Reds take a chance on Okamoto? If Okamoto’s skills translate to the majors, he could end up being a determining factor.
