The Chicago White Sox have reportedly popped up as a potential suitor for Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami two days before his posting deadline.
MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand and Scott Merkin reported Saturday night that the White Sox are “among the teams currently engaged in talks” with Murakami.
Murakami’s posting window, during which he can leave the NPB and sign with an MLB club, closes Monday at 5 p.m. ET.
Feinsand has previously reported that the majority of MLB teams see Murakami, who spent most of his time in NPB as a third baseman, playing at first base.
The White Sox could also be looking to add some power to their batting lineup after ranking 23rd in MLB with 165 home runs last season.
Murakami could potentially provide that. He ranked fifth in NPB with 22 home runs despite appearing in just 56 games due to an oblique injury last season.
He also recorded a 28.6 percent strikeout rate and 36.7 whiff rate, however. As noted by MLB.com’s David Adler, players typically see their contact rates drop when transitioning from the NPB to MLB.
The White Sox could be willing to take that chance as the franchise looks to start building a competitive batting lineup around their core of Kyle Teel and Colson Montgomery.
Bringing in another young player in Murakami, 25, to join 23-year-old Teel and Montgomery could help the White Sox add to their young core after four straight years outside the postseason picture.
Should Murakami ultimately not sign with an MLB club by Monday, Feinsand reports he would return to the NPB for 2026.
