Japanese third baseman Munetaka Murakami shall be posted by the Yakult Swallows of Nippon Skilled Baseball at present, studies Jeff Passan of ESPN. The slugger may have 45 days to achieve an settlement with an MLB workforce, starting on November 8.
Murakami has lengthy been anticipated to make the leap from NPB to MLB following the 2025 season. He’ll now formally turn into one of the crucial intriguing names on the free agent market. Kyle Tucker and Bo Bichette have been the one hitters to rank forward of him in our High 50 Free Brokers checklist.
The 25-year-old Murakami has been one of many preeminent energy hitters in NPB over the previous seven seasons. He launched 56 house runs in 2022, breaking the single-season document held by Sadaharu Oh. Murakami slugged 246 house runs throughout eight NPB seasons.
Since Murakami is now 25, he’s thought-about knowledgeable below MLB’s worldwide free company guidelines. Meaning he’s free to barter with all 30 groups with out restrictions. Gamers who make the transfer to MLB previous to turning 25 are thought-about amateurs and are topic to the worldwide bonus pool system, which considerably limits their incomes energy.
Murakami slashed .270/.394/.557 with the Swallows, although there’s loads of swing-and-miss to his recreation. He struck out at the very least 28% of the time in every of his final three seasons. Strikeout numbers are usually decrease in NPB, in order that mark must be anticipated to rise when Murakami faces MLB pitching.
It’s unclear the place Murakami will match on the defensive facet. He’s spent most of his time at third base over the previous 5 seasons, however he additionally has ample expertise at first base. Murakami made a single begin in proper discipline this previous 12 months. Scouts have labeled him as a mean fielder who will most likely match finest at first base.
“Future Dodger” is the everyday response to any dialogue round Murakami, because the membership already has Japanese stars Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki. With Freddie Freeman occupying first base and Max Muncy returning to play third, Los Angeles doesn’t have a gap on the corners. Ohtani is locked in at DH. The Dodgers might have seen sufficient within the one-game pattern this season to attempt Murakami within the outfield, the place their choices are much less sure. Fellow large markets just like the Crimson Sox, Mets, and Yankees look like simpler matches.
The workforce that indicators Murakami should pay a posting price to the Swallows. The price is 20% of the contract’s first $25MM, 17.5% of the subsequent $25MM, and 15% of spending above $50MM.
