{"id":20129,"date":"2025-01-18T03:23:24","date_gmt":"2025-01-18T03:23:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=20129"},"modified":"2025-01-18T03:23:24","modified_gmt":"2025-01-18T03:23:24","slug":"%f0%9f%9a%a8-yankees-are-gearing-up-for-roki-sasakis-mlb-redemption-next-winter-and-the-perfect-opportunity-is-on-the-horizon-%e2%9a%be","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=20129","title":{"rendered":"\ud83d\udea8 Yankees are gearing up for Roki Sasaki\u2019s MLB redemption next winter, and the perfect opportunity is on the horizon! \u26be"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Yankees have eyes on Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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World Baseball Classic Semifinals: Mexico v Japan \/ Eric Espada\/GettyImages<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n
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After losing Juan Soto, the\u00a0New York Yankees<\/a>\u00a0seemed intent on building a juggernaut that would haunt the AL East for the next few years. That\u2019s when they signed Paul Goldschmidt to a one-year deal, filling the spot previously occupied by Anthony Rizzo. For a team chasing continued dominance, passing on longer-term solutions for a one-year player is a bewildering move.<\/p>\n

The initial reaction was an expectation that GM Brian Cashman was going to make a play for\u00a0Vladimir Guerrero Jr.\u00a0<\/a>While that is still a possibility, we have now heard whispers that the Yankees\u2019 front office is eyeing a Japanese superstar as a long-term solution.<\/p>\n

The Yankees are looking to sign Munetaka Murakami<\/h2>\n

According to\u00a0Yankees\u2019 reporter Michael Kay<\/a>, Yankees\u2019 management is aiming to bring Japanese superstar Munetaka Murakami aboard next offseason.\u00a0Kay had this to say on ESPN:<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019ve got to come up with another creative way to make yourself more attractive.\u00a0You just do. [Yoshinobu] Yamamoto turned you down [for the Los Angeles Dodgers]. Now, [Roki] Sasaki turned you down. Now, the slugging first baseman Murakami is going to be a free agent at the end of this year. I know the Yankees would love to have him. That\u2019s why they don\u2019t want to sign a long-term deal for a first baseman. Are they going to be able to get him, or is he going to end up on the West Coast?\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Murakami is one of the top sluggers in NPB history. He is the youngest to reach 200 home runs at age 24. In 2022 and at the age of 22, he became the youngest player in the NPB to hit for the triple crown, posting an astounding .318\/.458\/.711\/1.168 slash line with 134 RBIs and 56 home runs through only 487 at-bats. His 56 home runs that season hold the single-season home run record in Japan.<\/p>\n

Murakami\u2019s on-base percentages are staggering as he draws a massive number of walks each season. Last year was a definite down season for the 24-year-old slugger. Murakami posted a .244\/.379\/.472\/.851 slash line with 33 home runs in 500 at-bats. The 33 home runs were promising, but his OPS and SLG were at career lows. He hit a career-low 13 doubles with one triple last season accounting for the low SLG. He started the year mired in a slump before coming back around.<\/p>\n

Murakami is no stranger to slumps as he has been plagued with them the past few years, even in his historic 2022 season. His WBC performance in 2023 was certainly memorable though it came during one his slumps. He had very few hits, but they were important ones. His two-run walk-off double sent Team Japan to the finals against Team USA where he did this against Merrill Kelly:<\/p>\n

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