Well, according to Murakami’s contract with the Swallows, it’s returning to the NPB. After capping off his 2022 run in jaw-dropping fashion, he landed a three-year deal. The contract — worth $600 million yen (roughly $4.5 million USD per year) — keeps Murakami in Tokyo until 2025. After that, he’ll officially be posted for MLB clubs to swarm in and bid.
As one may understand, Swallows president Tsuyoshi Kinugasa isn’t too fond of the idea of losing Murakami to the MLB.
“It would be a huge blow to our club,” Kinugasa said in December, according to The Mainichi. “But he is a treasure in the baseball world. I’m sure baseball fans in Japan want to see him play in the majors.”
However, Murakami has made his sights clear.
“Of course I want to try (the MLB),” Murakami said, per CBS Sports. “I don’t know how old I’ll be, but I’m still young, so the sooner the better. It will involve discussions with (the Swallows), but if I can go, I want to go soon.”
Murakami will be 25 years old when he’s eligible to sign a contract of any size with an MLB team. Any agreement worth over $50 million will have to include a 15% posting fee for the Swallows.