The first step to bring Munetaka Murakami to Major League Baseball reportedly is underway.
Multiple media outlets reported the Japanese home run king has been posted by the Tokyo Yakult Swallows on Friday, officially starting the process of one of the most anticipated free agencies of the winter.
The 45-day window will open at 8 a.m. ET on Saturday and expire at 5 p.m. on Dec. 22. Should Murakami remain unsigned by an MLB team, he will be returned to the Swallows.
Per MLB.com, the New York Yankees and Mets, Seattle Mariners, Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants and Boston Red Sox are among the clubs interested in Murakami.
Murakami, 25, won the Triple Crown in 2022, highlighted by a 56-homer campaign that broke Sadaharu Oh’s long-standing record for home runs in a single season by a Japanese-born player.
Murakami, who primarily plays third base as well as first base for the Swallows, is a two-time Central League Most Valuable Player and four-time All-Star.
The 6-foot-2, 213-pounder belted 22 homers to go along with 47 RBIs while being limited to just 56 games this past season due to an oblique injury.
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