White Sox Make Biggest Free Agent Move In Years, Sign Slugger

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Chris Getz has just signed the biggest free agent for Chicago since Andrew Benintendi, with Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami.

The Chicago White Sox have made one of their biggest free agent moves in years, signing Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami to a two-year, $34 million contract, per ESPN’s Jeff Passan.

It’s a monumental signing for a team that has not made a splashy free agent signing since agreeing to a deal with outfielder Andrew Benintendi back in 2023.

Murakami, 25, is the single-season home run champion in Japan, hitting 56 home runs back in 2022.

Murakami was expected to sign a longer-term deal in free agency, making it somewhat surprising that he only went for two years on his contract. He will re-enter free agency at the age of 27 and potentially earn more on his next deal.

What Does Murakami Bring to Chicago?

The Japanese slugger brings a power component to Chicago, unseen in years by White Sox fans. In 2025, infielder Lenyn Sosa led the White Sox with 22 home runs. Murakami should exceed that immediately, given his pedigree.

Murakami has hit 246 long balls in just eight seasons in the Nippon Professional Baseball League.  His power is undeniable at 6-foot-2, 213. However, what had teams concerned was his tendency to swing and miss.

According to Passan, this may have made teams unsure of signing Murakami to a long-term deal. He has struck out 977 times in those eight seasons. However, in a league that sees power hitters strike out a ton, he could fit in if he improves on his contact rate a little.

This is a savvy move by the White Sox to get two prime years of Murakami, while saving payroll for other moves. In addition, the amount of raw power Murakami possesses, and the upside he brings, was too good to pass up on.

Where Does Murakami Fit in Chicago?

What may be the question White Sox fans are asking is what position will Murakami play in an already crowded Chicago infield?

According to Passan, he will be playing at first base. A team without a true first baseman in the majors or minors, Murakami will fit seamlessly into the White Sox’s plans.

While it’s unclear how good a defender Murakami will be at the major league level, it can’t get much worse than what the White Sox were trotting out at first the last couple of years.

This will likely mean that Miguel Vargas will be the opening day starter at third base, after playing 63 games at first in 2025.

However, this does displace either Sosa, who played 42 games at first in 2025, or fellow infielder Chase Meidroth. Sosa is the superior hitter of the two, but Meidroth is a better defender. But a crowded infield may be a good problem for this White Sox team to have.

For a young team that has Edgar Quero, Kyle Teel, Colson Montgomery, Sosa, Meidroth and others already on the team, with many more waiting in the minors, this could be the start of something new in Chicago.

Chicago has been building a team with young, interesting talent, and may have just bought a fast pass to accelerate their rebuild.

Matthew Singer Matthew Singer is a sports reporter covering MLB for Heavy.com. He has written for Heavy since 2025, and has two years of experience covering local professional, collegiate and high school sports, including writing for Cronkite News and Arizona PBS. More about Matthew Singer