Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami's posting window closes at 5 p.m. on Monday, December 22. Due to rules agreed upon between the MLB and NPB, players who choose to come to stateside to play only have 45 days to sign with a major league club, and the corner infielder's time is almost up.
Murakami comes to MLB as the single-season home run leader in NPB, with scouts and executives saying he has 70-80 grade power (on the 20-80 scale). The biggest concern about the slugger is his strikeout rate, which is near 30% his last two seasons.
Little reporting has come out about Murakami's market. Nobody is quite sure which teams are engaged in conversation to sign the lefty, or what type of contracts have been extended to him. At the beginning of the offseason, national outlets thought he would get a long-term, high-money contract. MLB Trade Rumors projected eight years, $180 million, Justbaseball.com had seven years, $140 million, and ESPN had a conservative five years, $80 million.
Now, with the clock ticking down and Murakami's list of suitors still uncertain, could a team shift to an Alex Bregman-type pillow contract: short-term, AAV with an opt-out?
Could the Red Sox use the Murakami's ticking clock to swoop in and steal him?
Munetaka Murakami’s posting window closes in 4 days and there really hasn’t been much reporting about him at all.
— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) December 19, 2025
It’s a fascinating situation and I can’t wait to see what happens. pic.twitter.com/qySvbWJ8KK
If that becomes something Murakami is willing to take, can the Boston Red Sox get involved? Recent reports have suggested the Red Sox do not like giving long-term contracts to players on the open market. They have shown willingness to give a pillow contract.
Experts believe the lefty will mostly play first in the majors. While the Red Sox still have Triston Casas, he is not guaranteed a spot on the major league roster on opening day, which could open the spot of Murakami.
The Red Sox may prefer a player whom they aren't committed to for a long time. He wouldn't require the same amount of money that Bregman did, either. A three-year contract worth $72 million, with opt-outs after each year, could be enough to entice him to Boston. It would also allow him to hit free agency again at ages 26, 27, or 28.
Why might Murakami want to take a pillow contract? Like other high-profile free agents, he may want a year to prove his worth. The slugger has no track record in MLB, which makes it much harder to project him and give him a long-term commitment. While he could become one of the best power hitters in all of baseball, there are current red flags and no proof of concept.