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Ex-MLB GM Calls Yankees the Favorite for Next Japanese Star

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kristie Ackert | Last updated May 26, 2025 1:04 PM ET

The Yankees have long been linked to Munetaka Murakami, the Tokyo Yakult Swallows slugger expected to hit MLB free agency after the 2025 season. The buzz picked up recently when The Athletic’s Jim Bowden, a former MLB GM, named the Yankees among teams likely to chase Murakami if he posts.

Bowden sees Murakami as a .240 to .260 hitter with real 30-home run pop. Defensively, he’s below average at third base but serviceable at first and has even played some left field this year.

The Yankees’ interest isn’t a surprise.

YES Network’s Michael Kay touched on the Yankees’ interest in Murakami back in January, noting the team is gearing up with his signing in mind. In fact, Murakami was noted as a reason the Yankees went with a one-year stopgap at first base this season.

Bowden has also written that the Yankees are favorites to sign Bo Bichette to play third base. Ben Rice is looking like the first baseman of the future. So, it remains to be seen how this could all fit together.

But the Yankees were clearly positioning themselves to add another big bat from Japan. How they balance Murakami’s power potential with defensive concerns and existing roster pieces will be key.

They’ve had success with Japanese stars before—think Hideki Matsui, the 2009 World Series MVP, and Masahiro Tanaka, a two-time All-Star with a solid Yankees tenure. The Yankees have also failed spectacularly with the latest generation of Japanese talents : Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Roki Sasaki.

A left-handed hitter, however, Murakami might feel a little more comfortable in the Bronx with that short, right-field porch.

In 837 games and 3,560 plate appearances in the NPB, Murakami has hit .270/.395/.549 with 224 home runs and 600 RBIs.

He won the Triple Crown in 2022 with a whopping 56 homers, 134 RBIs and a .318 batting average. At the World Baseball Classic in 2023, which Japan won, Murakami posted an .826 OPS with a home run and six RBIs in 26 at-bats.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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