MLB Insider Lists Seattle Mariners as No. 1 Fit For International Superstar
The Seattle Mariners acquired their starting third baseman for the rest of the season after they traded for Eugenio Suarez from the Arizona Diamondbacks on July
www.si.comHere’s the latest I can confirm from public reporting up to late 2025:
- Murakami signed with the Chicago White Sox on a two-year contract worth $34 million, with the deal announced around December 2025. This short-term pact sends him to MLB as a candidate for a power-heavy infield presence, though teams cited concerns about contact rates and overall adjustment to major league pitching.[2][4][5]
- The signing represented a relatively modest guardrail for Murakami’s post-NPB path, given expectations for a larger, longer-term deal in the high-nine-figure range, and the market ultimately produced a shorter commitment than some projections had suggested.[5][7]
- Key context: Murakami had been widely regarded as the top power hitter in Japan, with standout seasons and a historic home-run total, but scouts pointed to strikeout risk and adjustment questions when transitioning to MLB, which influenced contract length and value.[3][7][5]
If you want, I can pull more recent updates or confirm the contract details with exact terms and dates from the White Sox announcement and major outlets. Would you like me to do that?