The Los Angeles Dodgers are now on alert as the sweepstakes for Japanese star third baseman Munetaka Murakami are underway.
On Friday, ESPN MLB insider Jeff Passan reported, citing sources, that Murakami will enter the posting system, kicking off what is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated free-agent periods of the offseason.
Passan’s report notes, citing sources, that Murakami’s 45-day signing window opens at 8 a.m. ET Saturday, giving him time to join a big league team before it closes at 5 p.m. on Dec. 22.
Can The Dodgers Land Munetaka Murakami?
The question now is, which teams are going to be in on the coveted 25-year-old who has the potential to be a cornerstone player for a franchise? With the bidding process set to begin, former MLB general manager Jim Bowden reports the teams that he expects to be contending for Murakami.
Check Out Our Custom-Designed Los Angeles Dodgers Merch HERE!
“Happy Munetaka Murakami Day as all 30 MLB teams were informed he has officially been posted by the Tokyo Yakult Swallows and the negotiations for his services will begin Saturday morning,” Bowden wrote on X. “The Dodgers, Red Sox, Yankees, and Mariners should all be among the teams in play.”
Murakami holds the record for most home runs in a single season by a Japanese player in Nippon Professional Baseball, hitting 56 in 2022 to surpass Sadaharu Oh’s 1964 mark of 55. Known for his prodigious power, Murakami finishes his eight seasons with the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, having totaled 246 home runs.
A left-handed batter, Murakami appeared in only 56 games this season due to an oblique injury, yet he still managed to hit 22 home runs while posting a .273/.379/.663 slash line.
Although, his tendency to strike out, especially his in-zone swing-and-miss rate, could make teams cautious, Murakami’s age and potential make him an enticing free-agent target, and his market is expected to spark a bidding frenzy.
Would Munetaka Murakami Benefit From Signing With the Dodgers?
Los Angeles has Max Muncy, who recently had his option picked up, and Freddie Freeman at the corner infielders. However, Freeman is 36 years old and Muncy is 35 years old. As a result, the Dodgers do need to begin preparing for successors if they want to sustain this run of success.
Moreover, having Freeman and Muncy could allow the Dodgers to ease Murakami into life in the major leagues. The 2025 MLB season showed that Los Angeles is willing to be patient with players and not throw them into positions that might overwhelm them or endanger their confidence.
The Dodgers were patient with Shohei Ohtani’s return to the mound and with Roki Sasaki navigating his way in his first season in the majors. This patience, along with having the Japanese core, could be what Los Angeles sells Murakami, and potentially being part of a historic three-peat season won’t hurt either.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have made a significant investment in Japanese players over the past two offseasons. The team committed over $1 billion to secure Ohtani in free agency and acquire Yoshinobu Yamamoto from the Orix Buffaloes via the posting system, per ESPN.
Nonetheless, this approach has helped the Dodgers win back-to-back World Series titles with Ohtani, Yamamoto, and Sasaki playing key roles, especially this past postseason. Could Murakami be the latest? The race should be interesting.