White Sox fan favorite 35-HR slugger gets risky $200M contract prediction originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Chicago White Sox made the postseason for the first time in a while in 2026, and even won a playoff series, while nearly beating the Cleveland Guardians in the ALDS.
While the White Sox didn't win the World Series, it was still a wildly successful season. One of the key reasons for the team's success was fan-favorite 35-homer slugger Munetaka Murakami.
He's only under contract for one more season, so the White Sox might need to figure out if he's worth an extension. But what is he worth? Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter is predicting that he will land a $200 million contract, which would be very risky for the team spending so much on Murakami.
Munetaka Murakami gets $200M contract prediction
"Pete Alonso got a $31 million AAV on a five-year deal ahead of his age-31 season as an elite power hitter with limited secondary value," Reuter writes. "Murakami will be four years younger when he shops for his next contract. Even if he doesn't match that AAV, a longer deal could easily push the full value above $200 million."
Reuter is predicting that Murakami will be a $200 million contract recipient in the future, which would be a fortune for a slugger who's really only a power-hitter.
Murakami isn't someone who's going to hit for average or soar around the bases for doubles and triples. But he does hit the long ball and can be a key cog in an offense that needs more power.
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There will be teams interested in Murakami, especially if he has another big season in 2027, proving his 2026 rookie year in his first foray into Major League Baseball wasn't a fluke.
But signing Murakami to a long-term deal worth $200 million would be very risky. He's a great slugger, but if his power diminishes in any meaningful capacity, his overall production could be quite underwhelming.
Obviously, when he's at his best, Murakami is worth more than the $17.5 million he'll make in 2027. But his strikeout problem hasn't gone away, and his power was inconsistent during the 2026 season.
While a $200 million contract for Murakami would certainly be risky, the upside and his age might be enough to get his new deal above the $200 million mark.
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