Munetaka Murakami has made a quiet foray into the Major League market

Munetaka Murakami is one of the more intriguing players available in free agency.

The Japanese third baseman is believed to have elite power Fangraphs are taking notice that his power could be between 70 and 80 on the scouting scale of 20 to 80 (20 being the lowest and 80 being the highest). However, there are concerns about Murakami’s swing-and-miss profile. He hit 25.8% during his time with the Yakult Swallows and struggled with fastballs over 94 MPH. Murakami also ran at an elite rate of 16.2%, making him a potential three true outcome player in the United States.

There is also the question of where Murakami would play. His lack of mobility and strength on the edges at third would likely lead to a move across the diamond or as a designated hitter.

Will Munetaka Murakami be signed before his post window closes?

Murakami was expected to have a robust market despite these shortcomings. He will turn 26 before spring training, which will give him time to develop and adapt to the Major League level. He had been projected to receive a contract worth at least $100 million, including postal costs, as teams gambled that his prodigious power would translate stateside.

Instead, the Murakami market was quiet. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic speculated that Murakami will not return to Japan, although no one knows which teams are interested in signing him. Likewise, MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reported that Murakami’s market is tied to third baseman Alex Bregman and shortstop Bo Bichette. The problem is that Murakami can’t wait for offers like his message box closes on December 22 at 5:00 PM.

Murakami would be a good fit for multiple teams. The New York Mets’ offseason will be defined by the players they lost who need to add an impact bat to the lineup. The Boston Red Sox need to find an answer at first base. Teams like the San Diego Padres, Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners could be involved in his market and they are looking to add another slugger to the lineup. Any interested team will have to make a quick offer as Murakami is running out of time to get to the United States.