The sweepstakes for Japanese free agent Munetaka Murakami, who is linked to the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays among several other teams, is reaching its final days, with his MLB posting window ending on December 22. There have been plenty of teams connected to the power hitter, but nothing concrete in terms of a favorite to land the player.
Murakami appeared in only 56 games this season due to an oblique injury, but still managed 22 home runs, posting a .273/.379/.663 slash line. The question surrounding him is whether he can translate what has made him successful in Japan into the major leagues.
On December 12, MLB Network insider Jon Morosi shared the latest on Murakami as the window to sign him dwindles.
“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. And 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.
“All the power that he’s had in the past, the 56-homer season, a really intriguing lefty bat. Yeah, there’s some swing and miss, but he’s a guy that a lot of teams like. You can’t wait forever on Bregman because Murakami is no longer a secondary option once you get past December 22.”
Why Red Sox Could Be Hesitating on Munetaka Murakami
In a December 5 ESPN article, Buster Olney notes that although the player shows considerable potential, teams remain hesitant. This could help explain why he has not signed a contract during his posting window so far.
“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.”
Mariners Seen as a Fit for Munetaka Murakami
Right after the offseason began, the Seattle Mariners acted quickly to lock up a familiar face. Seattle re-signed Josh Naylor to a five-year deal, keeping him in the Pacific Northwest. With that move complete, MLB insider Mark Feinsand thinks Murakami should be the Mariners’ next priority.
“I know everybody loves to connect Japanese free agents to the Mariners because of the Ichiro [Suzuki] connection, but they haven’t really dipped into that market very heavily in the last 10 to 15 years,” Feinsand said in a video from the MLB Network posted on December 5. “They had some guys earlier in the century, but not recently.
“That said, Murakami is a great fit there. They need to replace Eugenio Suárez at third base — big power bat. Murakami was one of the best home run hitters in Japan. It seems like a good fit.”
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