Munetaka Murakami to be posted for MLB signing, can negotiate deal for 45 days: Source

Munetaka Murakami, a slugging corner infielder from Japan and one of this offseason’s most highly discussed free agents, is expected to be posted Friday, a league source confirmed to The Athletic. After the Yakult Swallows of Nippon Professional Baseball open the process, Murakami will have 45 days to reach an agreement with a major-league team, starting Saturday.

Murakami, a left-handed batter whose posting was first reported by ESPN, seems poised to land a lucrative deal. He ranks as the No. 17 free agent on The Athletic’s Big Board. The Athletic’s Tim Britton projects him to secure an eight-year, $158.5 million deal.

At only 25 years old, Murakami has attracted global attention for years, mostly for his prolific power. His 56 home runs in 2022 broke Sadaharu Oh’s longstanding NPB record for a player born in Japan. Multiple evaluators described Murakami’s power as a 70- or 80-grade, which is the highest on the industry’s scouting scale.

Though many in the industry appreciate Murakami’s strength, some parts of his game are concerning. Murakami’s strikeout rates have hovered close to 30 percent for each of the past three years. Some evaluators suggest he may need to make mechanical adjustments with his swing; players from NPB (more of a contact-heavy hitting environment) typically experience higher strikeout rates upon coming over to MLB.

Murakami’s defense is also suspect. He plays third base, but many anticipate him needing to move to first base, mostly due to his perceived limited range.