White Sox land Murakami on two-year, $34 million contract

The Chicago White Sox have agreed to a two-year, $34 million contract with Munetaka Murakami, the Japanese slugger who set the single-season home run record in 2022, according to ESPN and The Post's Jon Heyman. The deal, confirmed Sunday by multiple outlets, delivers a high-profile addition to a Chicago roster that's been in a rebuild phase after a string of disappointing seasons.

Murakami, 25, is coming off a surge that has positioned him as one of the game’s premier young sluggers. He began his pro career with the Yakult Swallows in Japan and hit 56 homers in 2022, breaking Sadaharu Oh’s longstanding mark. In addition to that record, Murakami has four other 30-homer seasons on his resume, underscoring the potential impact he could have in the middle of Chicago’s lineup. Defensively, he has been viewed primarily as a corner infielder, capable at third or first base, but the White Sox see him as a fit to contribute as a first baseman in Chicago and potentially as a designated hitter depending on roster construction.

Murakami’s 2025 season was marred by injuries, yet he still produced when on the field, delivering 22 home runs in 59 games and posting a 1.043 OPS. While the sample size is smaller than a full season, the power and on-base threat he provides remain key selling points for a team seeking to inject more punch into its lineup. The White Sox view him as a potential cornerstone piece as they attempt to accelerate their rebuild and return to competitive contention.

The signing arrives as part of a broader organizational effort to reshape a roster that has struggled to reach the postseason and to contend for the American League pennant. Chicago hasn’t advanced past the American League Division Series since winning the World Series in 2005 and has endured multiple seasons of sub-.500 finishes. Last year, the White Sox improved to 60-102 after a 41-121 record in 2024, with a young group of players positioned to take on larger roles as the club attempts to climb back toward respectability. The Murakami addition comes with the expectation that it will help catalyze that rise, pairing him with a young core that the organization believes can develop together over the next two seasons.

Among the young players projected to be part of Chicago’s near-term lineup are Chase Meidroth, Colson Montgomery, Edgar Quero and Brooks Baldwin, all under 25 and viewed as potential contributors as the rebuild continues. Murakami’s arrival could push some of those prospects into more prominent roles or create favorable run-scoring opportunities for them as they acclimate to major league baseball.

On the mound, Shane Smith appears poised to be the White Sox’s ace in 2026 after a rookie season that featured a 3.81 ERA and 145 strikeouts. Smith finished 10th in American League Rookie of the Year voting and is expected to anchor the rotation alongside a mix of established and developing arms as Chicago looks to complement its improved offensive potential with a more competitive pitching staff.

ESPN reported that Murakami is expected to play first base in Chicago, a fit that could maximize his power while protecting the middle of the order. The White Sox, who have been a work in progress on offense for several seasons, hope Murakami’s presence will provide not only immediate run production but also a longer-term blueprint for how the lineup can be constructed around him and the evolving group of young players.

The two-year, $34 million contract represents a relatively low-risk, potentially high-reward move for a club hoping to accelerate its return to respectability. If Murakami translates his Japanese success to Major League Baseball, he could become a defining piece of Chicago’s retooling efforts and serve as a bridge between the franchise’s recent past and its hoped-for present and future.