Japanese Baseball Star Munetaka Murakami Officially Posted for MLB
The 2025 Major League Baseball offseason has received a massive boost with a major international development. The Tokyo Yakult Swallows have officially posted their superstar infielder, Munetaka Murakami, making him available for all 30 MLB clubs. This announcement, made on November 7, 2025, instantly establishes the 25-year-old as one of the most sought-after players on the global market this winter.
Posting Timeline and Financial Details
MLB teams received formal notification of Murakami's availability on Friday. The crucial exclusive negotiating window opened at 8:00 AM ET on Saturday and will remain active for 45 days. This period is set to conclude at 5:00 PM ET on December 22, 2025. If Murakami does not secure a contract with an MLB team within this timeframe, he will return to the Tokyo Yakult Swallows without any penalty.
The financial structure of the posting system includes a release fee that the signing club must pay to the Swallows. This fee is calculated on a sliding scale based on the total value of the contract:
- 20% of the first $25 million
- 17.5% of the next $25 million
- 15% of any amount exceeding $50 million
With industry experts projecting that Murakami will command a nine-figure contract, the Tokyo Yakult Swallows are guaranteed to receive a significant fee, estimated to be at least $16.9 million.
A Long-Awaited Move to Major League Baseball
This transition has been in the planning stages for over a year. Reports as far back as December 2023 identified the 2025 season as Murakami's final year in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). This was later confirmed by the Swallows' president, Tetsuya Hayashida, who stated in June to Japanese media that the organization was prepared and "willing" to post the celebrated player.
Munetaka Murakami is not just any player; he is a proven winner and a dominant force in Japanese baseball. His impressive resume includes being a two-time Central League Most Valuable Player and a four-time All-Star. His powerful hitting and youth make him a perfect target for MLB teams increasingly dependent on international talent pipelines to strengthen their rosters.
