The Philadelphia Phillies are expected to be major players in free agency this winter. Team management is looking to shake up its roster, despite previously winning the National League East by 13 games in 2025. Re-signing slugger Kyle Schwarber remains the club’s top priority.
However, the team’s president of baseball operations, Dave Dombrowski, is also looking to make other big splashes. Current Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm has been linked with a trade away from the club since early November. If he is moved, Philadelphia will need to find a suitable replacement.
Signing Alex Bregman is likely the team’s preferred option. Nevertheless, several teams are currently chasing the infielder, and the Phillies may miss out on grabbing the former Astro. If this is the case, Philadelphia could turn its attention to Munetaka Murakami.
CBS Sports reporter Mike Axisa has claimed that the Phillies are one of the top landing spots for the Japanese star. “Trading Alec Bohm and putting Murakami at third base is the easy move,” Axisa wrote on November 24.
“Philadelphia’s World Series window is as open as it’s going to get, and home runs win in the postseason. Murakami hits ’em. The Phillies have an opening at DH and can easily create an opening at third base. Hmmm.”
MLB Analyst Compares Munetaka Murakami’s Hitting Power to Kyle Schwarber
GettyMunetaka Murakami has posted impressive power numbers in Japan.
Murakami certainly has plenty of power. The typical third baseman previously hit 56 home runs for the Tokyo Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball in 2022. He most recently hit 22 homers for the team in just 56 games during the 2025 season. Murakami also nearly averaged an RBI per game and posted an OPS of 1.043 in the injury-shortened campaign.
The now 26-year-old has been compared to top MLB stars such as Pete Alonso and Schwarber. “This is a legitimate, ridiculous power hitter,” CBS Sports analyst Jim Bowden said of Murakami in November. “He does profile as a 30-40 home run type guy. Think of the power of Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso. That’s the kind of power, and maybe even more.”
Having two Schwarber-type players on in the lineup would be a massive advantage for the Phillies. Murakami is versatile enough to swap positions if needed as well. Although he featured at third base a majority of the time throughout his career in Japan, he also has experience at first base and in the outfield.
Los Angeles Dodgers Expected to Pass on Murakami
While the Phillies will have competition to sign Murakami, one team has seemingly withdrawn from the race. Los Angeles Dodgers reporter David Vassegh is claiming that the reigning World Series champions have certain issues with the star’s swing. “I haven’t heard any rumors about the Dodgers and Murakami,” said Vassegh, as reported by Al Bat. “What I have heard is that he struggles with high velocity.”
MLB.com has highlighted Murakami’s increasing strikeout rate. Statistics show that the slugger’s K rate has gone from 20.9% in 2022 to just under 29% during the 2025 season. Although the swing-and-miss rate is fairly alarming, Murakami’s power numbers and recorded exit velocity (max of 116.5) are not scaring off other MLB teams.
Along with the Phillies, both New York teams, the Boston Red Sox, and the Seattle Mariners have been rumored to be interested in Murakami. The future of both Bohm and Schwarber will likely be directly linked to whether Philadelphia truly targets the Japanese star.
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