Munetaka Murakami 'concerns' turned into $34 million White Sox bargain
TL;DR
Munetaka Murakami signed a two-year, $34 million contract with the Chicago White Sox after 29 MLB teams passed on him. Concerns about his hitting ability and defensive flexibility contributed to his lower market value.
Key points
- Munetaka Murakami signed with the Chicago White Sox
- Contract valued at two years and $34 million
- 29 other MLB teams passed on him
- Concerns about hitting velocity and defense affected his market
Munetaka Murakami 'concerns' turned into $34 million White Sox bargain originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Chicago White Sox took a chance on Munetaka Murakami, and it's paying off.
Twenty-nine other organizations passed on the slugger from Nippon Professional Baseball during the offseason.
Murakami's projected contract surpassed $100 million, but he settled for a two-year, $34 million deal with the White Sox. Bleacher Report's Tim Kelly wrote Monday that other MLB teams seemed to have the wrong scouting report on the first baseman/designated hitter.
"Concerns about his ability to hit velocity and limited defensive flexibility led to Munetaka Murakami's market cratering this past offseason," Kelly wrote.
During the weekend, Murakami homered in all three games of Chicago's series against the Athletics. He launched a grand slam and finished 3-for-5 at the plate on Friday. Murakami's eight home runs rank him in a tie for third place with Ben Rice and Jordan Walker.
More: Shohei Ohtani deemed more valuable than Aaron Judge in recent ESPN discussion piece
It's a small sample size of 72 at-bats, and swing and miss concerns remain, but it may be in the White Sox's best interest to lock him up long-term sooner rather than later.
"If the White Sox are smart, they'll move pretty quickly to extend the 26-year-old, who will be a coveted free agent if he continues to deliver this type of power production and reaches the open market after the 2027 season," Kelly added.
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Q&A
Why did Munetaka Murakami's contract value drop to $34 million?
Concerns about his ability to hit velocity and limited defensive flexibility led to Munetaka Murakami's market cratering this past offseason.
Which MLB team signed Munetaka Murakami?
The Chicago White Sox signed Munetaka Murakami to a two-year, $34 million deal.
What were the concerns about Munetaka Murakami before his signing?
Scouts raised concerns regarding his ability to hit velocity and his limited defensive flexibility.
