The race to sign Japanese free agent Munetaka Murakami, reportedly attracting interest from the Boston Red Sox, New York Mets, and several other teams, is nearing its conclusion, with his MLB posting window closing on December 22. While many clubs have been linked to the slugger, no clear frontrunner has emerged.
Murakami appeared in just 56 games this past season due to an oblique injury, but still hit 22 home runs and posted a .273/.379/.663 slash line. The key question remains whether his success in Japan can carry over to the major leagues.
With his posting deadline nearing, FOX Sports’ MLB insider Ken Rosenthal shared the latest regarding what he’s hearing regarding Murakami amid a quiet market for him so far this offseason.
“You haven’t heard much about his market [but] that doesn’t mean there is no market,” Rosenthal said on the December 15 edition of “Fair Territory.” “I did have an executive tell me, ‘Boy, you don’t hear much about him. I wonder if he really has anything. Is the swing and miss concern that great?‘ It is, but at the same time, he’s 25 years old. Shohei Ohtani, who was younger when he came over, actually had a higher swing and miss rate in Japan.
“I do expect that he’s not going to go back to Japan. I do expect he’s going to sign by the time his 45-day negotiating window expires, but he remains the biggest mystery in this market because no one seems to know who is on him, and no one seems to know where this might end up, what the money would be, or what teams truly are interested. He is someone that I do expect will be with a major league club next season.”
Mets Among Teams Linked to Munetaka Murakami
Who are the teams having an interest in Murakami? On December 12, MLB Network insider Jon Morosi shared the latest regarding what teams are eyeing the 25-year-old.
“Murakami is of interest to teams like the Red Sox, the Mariners, the Tigers, the Phillies, the Mets, the Blue Jays, a lot of different teams,“ Morosi said on MLB Network.
“The Pirates, I have been told, are connected to Murakami. If you want to sign Murakami, you only have 10 more days to do it. So if the [Alex] Bregman market is going to continue into the new year, and if you’re thinking about Bregman or the power of Murakami.”
Why MLB Teams Are Hesitant Over Munetaka Murakami
In a December 5 ESPN article, Buster Olney notes that while the player has significant potential, teams remain cautious. That hesitancy may explain why he hasn’t yet signed a contract during his posting window.
“There’s a lot of talk among teams about Murakami, the free agent corner infielder who is making his way from Japan — and skepticism, in some front offices, about how his skill set will play in the big leagues, given his big swing-and-miss profile and the perception that his defense could be a problem,“ Olney wrote. “But all he needs in this bidding is for one team (or more) to fall in love with his big-time power.”
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