Red Sox Mentioned Among Potential Suitors For International Star

The Boston Red Sox’s lineup could use another power bat, and another option is expected to enter the fold.

Nippon Professional Baseball’s Yakult Swallows are expected to post Munetaka Murakami this offseason, according to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. The Japanese slugger will become an MLB free agent after hitting 22 home runs in 56 games during a 2025 campaign stunted by injuries.

Feinsand identified the New York Mets, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies and Seattle Mariners as teams expected to make a “big push” for Murakami. The insider also named the Boston Red Sox as a potential suitor.

“The Red Sox could use Murakami at first base,” Feinsand wrote. “Or if Alex Bregman opts out and signs elsewhere, they would have a vacancy at third base.”

Murakami looked like Japan’s next superstar when batting .318/.458/.710 with 56 home runs in 2022, but he hit a more modest .250 over the next two seasons. The left-hander still mashed 64 combined home runs.

Because Murakami turned 25 earlier this year, he won’t face the same international bonus pool contract restrictions as Shohei Ohtani and Roki Sasaki when they were posted. As a result, Murakami can surpass Boston’s Masataka Yoshida (five years, $90 million) for the richest contract given to a Japanese position player.

However, Feinsand warned that some scouts are concerned about Murakami’s high strikeout rates and decreasing walks.

“He has big power, but there appear to be a lot of holes in that swing,” an American League executive told Feinsand.

Although the Red Sox tallied an MLB-leading 324 doubles this season, Trevor Story led the offense with 25 home runs. A middle-of-the-order batter to replace Rafael Devers could be on Boston’s offseason wish list, and Murakami would join the likes of Kyle Schwarber, Pete Alonso and Eugenio Suárez among the sluggers who fit that bill.