Bold Munetaka Murakami trade prediction sends slugger to NL East team originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Some scouts may have had the wrong report on Munetaka Murakami.
The strikeout rate (33.8%) is still a work in progress, but it's safe to say the Chicago White Sox struck gold with the Japanese slugger's two-year, $34 million contract.
Amazingly, Murakami is tied with Aaron Judge for the MLB lead in home runs with 12 while playing steady defense at first base.
"Little good has it done the White Sox, though, who still have one of the worst run differentials and little to no realistic hope of making the postseason," Bleacher Report's Kerry Miller wrote Thursday.
Miller notes that the White Sox could take advantage of Murakami's hot start at the trade deadline. Among the interested clubs could be the New York Mets.
New York's cycling door of Jorge Polanco, Brett Baty, Mark Vientos, and Jared Young at first base is not ideal.
"Meanwhile, arguably the most painful of all the offseason decisions that now look regrettable was the Mets letting Pete Alonso sign with the Baltimore Orioles and then inadequately dealing with his departure," Miller added.
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Murakami is under contract for 2027, too, so the Mets would have him in the lineup for at least one and a half seasons.
Losing Alonso hurt, but this would be a better way to approach the corner infield position than throwing guys who have never played at the spot before.
The loser of this deal would be White Sox fans, who have fallen in love with Murakami's personality and play on the field.
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