What to know about possible Red Sox free agent target Munetaka Murakami

The most important potential worldwide free agent this offseason has been posted, and he is perhaps a match for the Pink Sox.

Japanese star Munetaka Murakami was posted by his workforce in Nippon Skilled Baseball (NPB), Tokyo Yakult Swallows, ESPN reported Friday. The 25-year-old can have 45 days to signal with an MLB workforce, giving him a Dec. 22 deadline.

Murakami has been listed by many analysts as one of many prime free-agent hitters this offseason, principally taking part in third base. The left-handed hitter additionally has expertise taking part in first base, with a handful of insiders speculating that the Pink Sox may very well be a match for Murakami, particularly if Alex Bregman leaves this offseason.

So, because the Murakami sweepstakes are set to start, listed below are 5 issues to find out about him with the opportunity of the Pink Sox coming into the pursuit to signal him.

He’s thought of to be the “Japanese Babe Ruth.”

As a hitter and a pitcher, Shohei Ohtani is perhaps doing issues that no MLB participant has completed since Babe Ruth. However Murakami is the Japanese star who has earned himself the nickname “Japanese Babe Ruth” due to his energy on the plate.

Murakami broke the NPB’s long-standing single-season dwelling run document in 2022, hitting 56 dwelling runs that 12 months. The document was beforehand 55, which was set by Sadaharu Oh in 1964.

Murakami’s showcase of his energy on the plate wasn’t restricted to only that season. He’s hit a minimum of 30 dwelling runs within the 5 seasons he’s performed 140 video games, together with 33 homers in 2024.

As he battled an indirect harm in 2025, Murakami performed simply 56 video games. However that didn’t cease him from hitting 22 dwelling runs to go together with a .273 batting common and 1.042 OPS. Murakami would’ve been on tempo to hit 55 dwelling runs had he performed 140 video games this previous season.

Munetaka can be a two-time Central League MVP, profitable the Triple Crown for his 2022 efficiency on the plate. He hit .318 with a 1.168 OPS and 134 RBIs that 12 months.

That kind of energy will surely be welcomed into the Pink Sox’ lineup, even when it’s from a lefty. The Pink Sox ranked fifteenth in baseball final season in dwelling runs with 186.

A few of his hitting numbers are regarding, although.

Whereas Murakami can mash, there is perhaps some frustrations together with his at-bats in between dwelling runs.

Murakami has had fairly excessive whiff and strikeout charges during the last two seasons. He had a 37.3 % whiff price in 2024 earlier than posting a 36.7 % strikeout price in 2025. He held a 29.5 strikeout price in 2024 and a 28.6 strikeout price this previous season.

For reference, Murakami’s whiff price in 2025 would’ve been the worst on the Pink Sox’ final season by over 5 % (outdoors Jhostynxon Garcia). His 2025 strikeout price would’ve been the second-worst amongst Pink Sox hitters who had a minimum of 20 plate appearances this previous season.

As Murakami’s whiff and strikeout price numbers, there’s a concern amongst expertise evaluators that these stats may very well be even worse for him in MLB. His in-zone contact price additionally ranked towards the underside of certified NPB hitters and he’s struggled to make contact on fastballs over 93 mph, according to SNY’s Joe DeMayo.

The place does he match within the discipline?

Although Murakami has primarily performed third base, some expertise evaluators imagine he may very well be higher suited to play first base within the majors, according to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. There’s additionally been some hypothesis that he may very well be a chosen hitter as properly.

Even when the Pink Sox lose Bregman in free company, they nonetheless is perhaps out there for a primary baseman this winter. Pink Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow didn’t make any commitments on who would be the beginning first baseman for the 2026 season when he spoke with reporters at his end-of-year press convention in October.

The place insiders imagine Murakami may signal.

Feinsand listed the Red Sox, together with the Giants and Dodgers, as potential matches for Murakami again in October. The Yankees, Mets, Phillies, and Mariners are additionally anticipated to be potential suitors for Murakami, Japanese outlet Nikkan Sports activities beforehand reported.

As some may assume the Dodgers will simply land the star, ESPN’s Jeff Passan isn’t so positive about that.

“Perhaps he needs to [play for the Dodgers], however the place does he match? The Dodgers simply picked up Max Muncy’s choice and Murakami performs third base,” Passan said on “The Rich Eisen Show.” “The Dodgers have Freddie Freeman at first base and he’s not going wherever. They’ve Shohei Ohtani at DH. Murakami’s in all probability not athletic sufficient to be an outfielder.”

In MLB Trade Rumors’ annual free agency predictions column, one of many 4 analysts predicted Murakami to signal with the Pink Sox on an eight-year, $180 million deal. Nevertheless, MLB.com’s 46-person panel has the Mariners as the favorite to sign Murakami.

How does the posting course of work?

In contrast to most different free brokers, Murakami has to undergo a bit extra of a fancy course of. Whichever MLB workforce indicators Murakami will even must pay a posting charge that’s decided by his contract.

The workforce that indicators Murakami will owe a posting charge of 20 % for the primary $25 million of his contract, 17.5 % for the following $25 million, and an extra 15% on each greenback after that. So, with Murakami set to cross the $100 million threshold, his posting charge will seemingly be a minimum of $16.9 million.