The next Japanese-born superstar free agent who intends to join the Major Leagues has already been revealed, and the Roki Sasaki sweepstakes has been concluded.
After the 2025 season, Munetaka Murakami, one of Nippon Professional Baseball’s finest sluggers, is expected to become available.
Which MLB team will sign the two-time Central League Most Valuable Player is the big question.
More news: Dodgers ‘Don’t Know’ When Shohei Ohtani Will Pitch This Season, Says Manager
“If I had to pick right now, I think the Yankees would be the favorite to land him,” Dodgers Nation’s Doug McKain said on Dodgers Dougout Live.
“I think that would be the No. 1 team for him right nowAdditional news: Manager Says Dodgers “Don’t Know” When Shohei Ohtani Will Pitch This Season On Dodgers Dougout Live, Doug McKain of Dodgers Nation stated, “If I had to choose right now, I think the Yankees would be the favorite to land him.
” “I believe that would be the best team for him at the moment.”.”
The Los Angeles Dodgers have made themselves into contenders for any Japanese-born talent that beco I’m mes available with the addition of Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki. But McKain hinted that Murakami would not necessarily end up in Los Angeles.
He would undoubtedly prefer to play on the West Coast, according to some Japanese NPB experts I spoke with, but it will only be West Coast teams against the Yankees, an East Coast team, McKain stated.
“He would definitely be willing to sign with the New York Yankees, but he would prefer to be on the West Coast.”
According to reports, Murakami stated that he would like to challenge Ohtani, the unanimous 2024 NL Most Valuable Player winner.
Murakami’s choice of where to sign would be greatly influenced by whether he wants to compete with Ohtani as a comrade or as a rival.
Murakami has hit at least 28 home runs each season since 2019 and has led the Central League in home runs twice (2021 and 2022). In 2022, he blasted 56 home runs and enjoyed a career-high.711 slugging percentage.
At the plate, the 25-year-old first baseman and third baseman could be able to challenge Ohtani. However, Murakami’s base-stealing is lower than Ohtani’s; he hasn’t stolen more than 12 bases in a season since 2018, whereas Ohtani has stolen 59 this season.
The Yankees would be a solid choice if Murakami wants to develop a rivalry with Ohtani, even though he would rather sign with a West Coast team.
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