In the first big free agency news of the baseball offseason, it was announced on Friday that Japanese star power hitter Munetaka Murakami was “posted”. That means that he now has a 45-day window to sign with an MLB team, meaning that he’ll have a new home by Christmas.
Who exactly is Murakami and which teams might be interested in signing him?
Murakami Has 45 Days To Sign With An MLB Team
While he has played professionally in Japan since 2018, Murakami will be just 26 years old to start the 2026 season. He is already one of the most accomplished young players in his country, and has a growing resume that will be attractive to teams around the MLB.
Here is a list of some of his achievements:
- 2x Central League (NPB) MVP
- 4x NPB All-Star
- 2019 Central League Rookie of the Year
- Triple Crown Winner (2022)
- Japan Series Champion
- Hit a Japanese record 56 HRs in 2022
Despite being limited to just 56 games this past season because of an oblique injury, the left-handed slugger still managed to belt 22 home runs and post a strong .273/.379/.663 slash line.
Murakami’s achievements at such a young age will make him one of the top free agent targets during the next month and a half. And according to early reports, there will be no shortage of teams lining up to make a bid.
Which Teams Will Be Making Bids Over The Next Month?
Recently, a group of 46 voters from MLB.com responded to polls asking them to predict where certain MLB free agents would land this winter. Of those, 46% said that the most likely destination for Murakami is in Seattle with the Mariners, especially given the chance that the team loses both Josh Naylor and Eugenio Suarez.
BREAKING: Japanese star third baseman Munetaka Murakami will be posted today, officially starting the process of one of the most anticipated free agencies of the winter, sources tell ESPN. Murakami's 45-day negotiating window to come to a deal with an MLB team starts tomorrow.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) November 7, 2025
The Los Angeles Dodgers, who seem to have a pipeline to Japan with all of their international stars, finished with 28% of the vote. 9% went to the New York Yankees.
All 30 MLB teams will be formally notified on Friday that the Tokyo Yakult Swallows have officially posted Munetaka Murakami, opening the door for him to negotiate with the majors. His talks with big league clubs can begin Saturday, kicking off what’s expected to be one of the most closely watched bidding wars of the offseason.
Murakami will have until 5 p.m. ET on Dec. 22 to finalize a contract. If no agreement is reached by the deadline, the posting window closes, and he’ll return to the Swallows for the upcoming season.
