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Munetaka Murakami is running out of time.
The Japanese superstar has until Dec. 22 to sign an MLB contract based on the rules from when he was posted. There haven't been any super public developments in this bidding, either, suggesting the race for Murakami's signature might be rather wide open.
ESPN's David Schoenfield has leaned into that in his prediction for where Murakami will land.
In a new article on Wednesday, Schoenfield's final verdict is that Murakami will sign with the Chicago White Sox.
"His market still seems wide open," Schoenfield writes. "The Phillies could also be an interesting fit, or maybe the Los Angeles Angels want to do something. Indeed, if any of these top 10 free agents land in a surprising spot, Murakami might be the one. The White Sox have money to spend -- their current estimated payroll is just $68 million and that includes $20 million for Luis Robert Jr., who might be traded. They have a desperate need for power and Murakami fits at either third or first, depending on where Miguel Vargas ends up. This would be a nice roll of the dice for a White Sox team that looks to be on the rise."
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Schoenfield also mentions the Mets, who he thinks are out of the running, along with the Red Sox and Mariners both having reasons to still be in the picture.
The Murakami signing would be familiar in one way for the White Sox.
When they signed Jose Abreu more than a decade ago, they were inking an established international star in hopes of giving themselves a cornerstone. Abreu provided exactly what they were hoping for.
Murakami comes from Japan, not Cuba, but it's the same idea. He could provide a jolt for the White Sox, and send a statement to the rest of MLB that Chicago is intending to contend sooner rather than later.
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