Who Will Land This Offseason's Biggest International Free Agent?

[Lou Hennessy]

Star talent coming over from Japan can have a tremendous effect on a team - just ask the National League Champion Los Angeles Dodgers. It’s hard to imagine them having the same success without their trio of Japanese stars. 
And while 25-year-old  corner infielder Munetaka Murakami isn’t nearly the same caliber of hitter as Shohei Ohtani, nor is he a high-octane arm such as Yoshinobu Yamamoto or Roki Sasaki, he still holds enough upside that multiple hopeful contenders will surely covet in 2026 and beyond. 
His market will be something to keep an eye on for baseball fans, with multiple other strong sluggers with proven track records set to join him via free agency. What that could also mean is that there are going to be multiple clubs looking to find suitable replacements should their impending free against sign elsewhere. 

It's hard to know the potential cost of acquiring the star slugger from the 2023 World Baseball Champion Samurai Japan club, but it's safe to assume he'll require at least a five-year commitment worth somewhere in the neighborhood of $90-$125 million, if not more. His new club would also be subject to paying a posting fee to his former club in the Nippon Proffesional Baseball league, the Tokyo Yakult Swallows.
Murakami’s upside makes him an intriguing target for nearly any team. But his age, positional fit and likely contract makes him a cleaner fit for these favorites. 

San Diego Padres

The Padres already have superstar Manny Machado locking down the hot corner for the foreseeable future, and the majority of Murakami’s playing time has come at third base. But the 25-year-old has also played a considerable amount at first base in his time in Japan, and he could be a ready-made replacement for impending free agent Luis Arraez. 
It would certainly give the Padres a different look in their lineup, as Arraez was more of an on-base threat with limited power, while Murakami would likely be a meat-of-the-order bat that hits behind Machado and the young table-setting duo of Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill. It would move Gavin Sheets to designated hitter or corner outfield, where he’s a better fit anyway. 
Murakami’s contract, while still sizable, would be a more-comfortable commitment for the Padres when compared to the likely offers that free agent sluggers such as Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso will likely command. 

Boston Red Sox

Earlier this week, Talk Sox threw out fellow countryman Kozuma Okamoto as a potential fit for Boston, and much of the same selling points hold true for Murakami, who is three years younger. He’d be a strong option to hold down first base for Triston Casas as he continues his recovery from a nasty patellar tendon surgery in May, and he could slide in as a platoon partner upon the former top prospect’s return. 
Murakami could also replace Alex Bregman at third base, with Marcelo Meyer moving to second base, or possibly shortstop if Trevor Story opts out of his contract (which seems unlikely at the moment). Regardless of where he would fit in defensively, Murakami would surely be a welcome addition to a Red Sox lineup that could use more right-handed thump. 

New York Mets

After a heartbreaking collapse that cost them a trip to the postseason in 2026, the Mets will surely be out for revenge this offseason. And with Steve Cohen footing the bill, you can never count them out when it comes to the premier talent on the open market. 
They’ll surely want to try to reel Alonso back into the fold, but if he signs elsewhere, there is going to be a big hole to fill at first base. Right now, Mark Vientos is their best option to take over as an internal candidate, and he’s coming off of a disappointing 2025 campaign where he held just a .702 OPS through 463 plate appearances. Simply put, the Mets need somebody that can fill the cleanup role behind superstar Juan Soto, and Murakami on a five-year deal could intrigue them enough to pounce on him this offseason. 

New York Yankees

Keeping things in the Empire State, the Yankees will surely be in on Murakami as a replacement for Paul Goldschmidt. The former MVP faded in the second half of the season, finishing the campaign with a .274/.328/.403 clip which translated to a virtually league-average bat (103 wRC+). 
The Bronx Bombers may want to aim higher as they try to capitalize on superstar Aaron Judge’s prime years, with Giancarlo Stanton’s age and Cody Bellinger’s departure making the need for more power even more necessary. At the very least, Murakami could split time with Ben Rice at first base, while filling in at third base and designated hitter when Stanton needs a day off or is on the shelf. 

Toronto Blue Jays

The American League champion Jays find themselves on the doorstep of their first World Championship in 32 years thanks to a lethal lineup that features Vlad Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette, but with the latter’s impending free agency, there could be some uncertainty on the left side of the infield in 2026. 
Murakami could offer some pop as a third baseman - certainly more than Ernie Clement, who has a strong defensive reputation there (11 Defensive Runs Saved), but could also slide pretty seamlessly to second base (10 DRS). We know the Blue Jays could have some money to spend after just missing out on Ohtani two years ago, and Murakami could be the type of secondary star that they’re looking for as they attempt to remain the top-dogs in the American League. 
 

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What do you think? Should these teams stand out as favorites to land Munetaka Murakami? Are there other teams that should be on this list? Who would you rather see these teams sign? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section, and as always, stay sweet. 

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