White Sox Continue Extension Talks with Munetaka Murakami

“Mune means a lot to us,” Getz said, per MLB.com’s Scott Merkin. “We certainly want him to come back and be here a long time.”

Murakami’s First MLB Season

Murakami, 26, hit 35 home runs in 127 games in his first major-league season after signing a two-year, $34 million deal with the White Sox last offseason. He is under contract through 2027 at $17.5 million. He slashed .207/.347/.478 for an .825 OPS, with a 35.4% strikeout rate offset by a strong walk rate. He missed more than a month with a hamstring strain but still led the team in home runs, including a two-homer game against Colorado in the final week, and played a central role in Chicago’s playoff run, homering in the ALDS Game 1 win at Cleveland.

Both sides have expressed interest in a longer-term deal before. Murakami has said several times that he enjoys Chicago and would like to stay with the White Sox. Getz has praised him as a hard worker and strong teammate whose presence has fueled the club’s progress.

What’s On Tap Next

No timeline has been disclosed, and Getz has been careful not to share specifics. A Murakami extension would be a significant commitment for a club that finished 84-78 and reached Game 5 of the ALDS, especially with a payroll that ranked 24th in the majors this season, per the Chicago Sun-Times. Getz also wants to add starting pitching this winter, and he said he has not yet discussed the 2027 payroll with chairman Jerry Reinsdorf.

For now, the sides keep talking. Whether those conversations produce a multi-year agreement before or after the 2027 season remains to be seen.