Yankees, Mariners Identified As Top Fits For Coveted Japanese Free Agent
One of the more interesting MLB free agents is Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami, mostly because it’s difficult to predict how good he will be. Murakami’s raw power at the plate is obvious, but many scouts are turned off by his high strikeout propensity. According to a new report from The Athletic’s Jim Bowden, two of the best fits for Murakami are the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners.
“The Munetaka Murakami market is going to be fascinating,” Bowden wrote. “The Japanese corner infielder is being posted this winter and MLB teams have been following his career closely for many years. He has plus power, but there have been concerns about his contact rates and his defense at third. Nonetheless, he’s expected to garner a lot of interest.”
“The Mariners seem like the most logical fit for Murakami at either infield corner, although the Yankees would be a good match, too, if they’re not leery of his defense and his swing-and-miss in the zone,” Bowden continued. “Imagine how many homers he’d hit at Yankee Stadium.”
The New York Post’s Jon Heyman also discussed Murakami’s market this week, providing some different conclusions than Bowden.
“He is a big, big hitter,” Heyman said of Murakami. “Former Triple Crown winner … huge power numbers, 56 home runs in a year. I mean, if (a team) wants power, this is the guy.”
“He’s probably a first baseman or a DH, probably not a third baseman at the Major League level,” Heyman continued. “A lot of the same teams (will be pursuing him) … the Red Sox, I gotta include the Dodgers … the Orioles … I’ll say the Marinors, although I think (he’s) probably pricey for the Mariners, and I do think they are kind of concentrating on (Josh) Naylor right now.”