Munetaka Murakami's decision is coming down to the wire.
The Japanese slugger is engaged in talks with the Chicago White Sox, among other teams, sources told Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, as his 45-day negotiating window is set to expire Monday at 5 p.m. ET.
Murakami must remain in Japan next season if he's unable to reach a deal with an MLB club prior to the deadline.
The 25-year-old is one of the premier sluggers in Nippon Professional Baseball. He hit .286/.392/.659 with 24 home runs and a 1.051 OPS in 69 games for Yakult last season. He's hit 247 homers in 899 games over the last seven seasons - including 56 in 2022.
Murakami appeared in seven games during the 2023 World Baseball Classic as a 23-year-old. He finished with four extra-base hits, 13 strikeouts, and a .826 OPS across 32 plate appearances.
Murakami hasn't generated a lot of interest this offseason despite his incredible power and the lack of impact free-agent bats. While he's played both corner infield spots, it's likely he'll be a first baseman in MLB. Meanwhile, his high strikeout rate in Japan is a significant sign of concern for any club. He struck out 28.6% of the time last season while walking just 14.3% of the time.
Even with those potential red flags, Murakami's power and age make him worth taking a shot on for a number of teams looking for a left-handed power bat.
