Breaking Murikami to the White Sox 2 x $17M

[desbcoach]

It's a risk to pay a hitter $17M over 2 years in 2026?

They paid Garver $12M over 2 years and there's actual morons who want him back.

I don’t want Mitch Garver back.

Every player is potentially risky.

But this guy is a huge red flag - the last 2 years he has strikeout rates around 30%, and that’s in a hitter friendly league in Japan.

This guy might figure it out in Chicago, and maybe he mashes 40 homers next year while striking out in single digits. If that’s the case, we’d look stupid for not signing him.

But for me, he’s not worth the risk. Go with a better, well rounded hitter like Okamato. Still risky, but not a one trick pony, either.

Murakami has been dealing with injuries the last 2 years. And despite the K rates, he walks at an insane clip.

Schwarber K's 200 times a year. Ohtani K's 200 times a year. Trout K's 200 times a year.

Okamoto is going to hit .240/.330/.390 in the majors.

This risk averse bullshit is why we will never win a title.

You have to take chances that players like this boom. Not auto slot 20 year old rookies and Ben fucking Williamson in your lineup.

Not a risk I want, first it spends the rest of their budget while it isn’t my money we know they will live with in a budget secondly you know,if they signed him and he didn’t perform , Ms would run him out there till,we,all puked like they have don’t with others

[D-train]

It's a risk to pay a hitter $17M over 2 years in 2026?

They paid Garver $12M over 2 years and there's actual morons who want him back.

I don’t want Mitch Garver back.

Every player is potentially risky.

But this guy is a huge red flag - the last 2 years he has strikeout rates around 30%, and that’s in a hitter friendly league in Japan.

This guy might figure it out in Chicago, and maybe he mashes 40 homers next year while striking out in single digits. If that’s the case, we’d look stupid for not signing him.

But for me, he’s not worth the risk. Go with a better, well rounded hitter like Okamato. Still risky, but not a one trick pony, either.

Murakami has been dealing with injuries the last 2 years. And despite the K rates, he walks at an insane clip.

Schwarber K's 200 times a year. Ohtani K's 200 times a year. Trout K's 200 times a year.

Okamoto is going to hit .240/.330/.390 in the majors.

This risk averse bullshit is why we will never win a title.

You have to take chances that players like this boom. Not auto slot 20 year old rookies and Ben fucking Williamson in your lineup.

Oka hit .322/.411/.581/.982 with an 11% K rate this past season while dealing with injuries and you are projecting a .720 OPS

Murakami hit .286/.392/.659/1.051 with a 27% K rate while dealing with injuries. What do project for him?

[D-train]

Screenshot 2025-12-21 111838.png (82.31 KiB) Viewed 220 times

[D-train]

Murakami has homered once ever 16 PAs and Oka 1 every 18 PAs in their careers. You are sacrificing minimal power for FAR less risk.

[Seattle or Bust]

I don’t want Mitch Garver back.

Every player is potentially risky.

But this guy is a huge red flag - the last 2 years he has strikeout rates around 30%, and that’s in a hitter friendly league in Japan.

This guy might figure it out in Chicago, and maybe he mashes 40 homers next year while striking out in single digits. If that’s the case, we’d look stupid for not signing him.

But for me, he’s not worth the risk. Go with a better, well rounded hitter like Okamato. Still risky, but not a one trick pony, either.

Murakami has been dealing with injuries the last 2 years. And despite the K rates, he walks at an insane clip.

Schwarber K's 200 times a year. Ohtani K's 200 times a year. Trout K's 200 times a year.

Okamoto is going to hit .240/.330/.390 in the majors.

This risk averse bullshit is why we will never win a title.

You have to take chances that players like this boom. Not auto slot 20 year old rookies and Ben fucking Williamson in your lineup.

Oka hit .322/.411/.581/.982 with an 11% K rate this past season while dealing with injuries and you are projecting a .720 OPS

Murakami hit .286/.392/.659/1.051 with a 27% K rate while dealing with injuries. What do project for him?

Yes, because I'm picking the player with the louder profile and elite tool who is also 25 and has room to develop.

[D-train]

Sure I get that but with so many question marks in the lineup I would prefer more of a sure thing

[Pharmabro]

The contract was not surprising, but his choice of teams was.

This guy is a high risk; he’s all or nothing. He was initially looking for a six or seven year deal, but no one was willing to offer that many years for a guy who had not proven himself at the American professional level.

Instead, he took a two year “ prove it” deal. If he can carry on slugging at the same level he did in Japan, then he’ll get a bigger deal in a year or two.

I’m glad we didn’t take the risk. We need more proven hitter. This guy could wind up being a Dae Ho Lee. And I agree with harmony - Okamoto would be a better fit assuming the M’s will pony up to get him.

I disagree at ages 18-23 Murakami had a .950 OPS compared to Ohtani age 18-23 being at .850. I get that Ohtani also has elite speed and a pitching arm but what am I missing on the bat?

[Pharmabro]

I would not mind seeing OKA and a trade for Brendan Donavan.

[D-train]

I would not mind seeing OKA and a trade for Brendan Donavan.

Not going to do both I wouldn't think but Oka can DH/3B and Donovan at 2B/3B/RF and LF to let Randy DH might work. That would be a good offseason.

[Pharmabro]

I would not mind seeing OKA and a trade for Brendan Donavan.

Not going to do both I wouldn't think but Oka can DH/3B and Donovan at 2B/3B/RF and LF to let Randy DH might work. That would be a good offseason.

I see that Brendan is only slotted to make 5.4M on Roster Resource so if Murakami got 2X17 maybe OKA sign at 3X14M or some such. But I hat this moronic approach that you have rookies slotted into slots. Fk that rookies need to be basically injury fill inns when needed. I could also go if somebody falls flat on their face. Not multiple rookies who did not prove they belonged the year before just because they are on lists.

If Colt just crushes it on D and with the bat then you push OKA or Donavan to 2B/OF/DH.