Japanese free agent, valued at $94 million, is expected to be a point of contention between the Cubs and Yankees.

Billy Heyen

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Cubs, Yankees predicted to battle for $94 million Japanese free agent image

Jiji Press

TL;DR

  • Munetaka Murakami, a top Japanese free agent, is highly desired for his 56 home run NPB record.
  • The New York Yankees and Chicago Cubs are considered potential favorites to sign Murakami.
  • Other teams like the Giants, Astros, and Blue Jays may also pursue Murakami, estimated at $94 million.
  • Murakami's transition from NPB to MLB presents questions despite his potential value.

It frequently seems that when a prominent Japanese free agent is set to join MLB, a select group of teams rapidly become the frontrunners.

With Munetaka Murakami, it doesn't quite feel like that.

He's clearly a desired free agent. He hit 56 home runs in 2022, which is the NPB record for a single season by a Japanese-born player.

Murakami can likely play either third base or first base at the MLB level.

ESPN's Jeff Passan laid out the case for a lot of teams landing Murakami on Tuesday. He suggests the New York Yankees and Chicago Cubs as potentially the couple favorites while also acknowledging that it's pretty wide open.

"The Yankees have a history of highly valuing exit velocity and age when it comes to acquiring players, so they're one of the rumored potential landing spots more because of their expected evaluation of Murakami, rather than needing power in the lineup from a corner position per se," Passan writes. "The Chicago Cubs make sense, as Murakami would join an influx of young hitters (Matt Shaw, Moises Ballesteros, Owen Caissie, Kevin Alcantara, Jonathon Long), while others either just entered free agency (Kyle Tucker) or are set to after next season (Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, Nico Hoerner)."

Passan also notes that the Giants, Astros, and Blue Jays might pursue Murakami, whom he anticipates will receive a $94 million commitment encompassing his contract and posting fee.

He likens Murakami to Brent Rooker, seeing him as the best-case scenario, while also considering a Joey Gallo or Spencer Torkelson trajectory as possibilities.

Any team that acquires Murakami will benefit, though questions will remain about his transition from NPB to MLB.

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Editorial Team