The White Sox want Munetaka Murakami in Chicago beyond 2027. The more uncomfortable question is whether they still want to pay for that future before they know exactly what they have.
General manager Chris Getz has acknowledged conversations about a long-term deal, saying both sides showed interest. That was before Murakami’s September slide turned a once-simple conversation into a genuine evaluation. He reached 30 home runs by Sept. 6 and carried a .836 OPS into early September, but his recent production has cooled sharply as opponents have attacked the swing-and-miss areas that were always part of his profile.
That timing matters. Murakami is signed for two seasons at $34 million and is not scheduled to reach free agency until after 2027. Chicago has control, a competitive window and no immediate reason to panic. But waiting also creates a familiar risk: if Murakami adjusts next season, the price could jump before the White Sox ever get serious.
The club’s internal debate is probably less about whether Murakami can hit 40 homers than whether his strikeout rate, defensive limitations and second-half adjustment issues can coexist with a franchise-sized commitment. For now, the White Sox appear interested, not aggressive. That is a meaningful distinction. Early talks are real, but an extension is hardly around the corner—and Chicago may be content to let 2027 answer the hardest questions first.