Munetaka Murakami, the Japanese slugger who was posted yesterday, represents a fascinating opportunity for the Chicago Cubs as they navigate one of the most consequential off seasons in recent franchise history. The 25-year-old powerhouse from the Tokyo Yakult Swallows officially entered the MLB posting window on today, giving teams 45 days to negotiate a deal that could reshape their rosters. While the Cubs haven’t dominated the early speculation surrounding the Japanese superstar, there’s genuine reason to believe Chicago could be a legitimate player in landing Murakami — especially now that the front office has made some bold roster decisions.
Let’s talk about the context here. The Cubs let Kyle Tucker walk as free agent and extended him a qualifying offer rather than pursuing a multi-year deal. Tucker was supposed to be the engine that powered the Cubs’ offense for the next several years, but the front office seems to be banking on finding alternative solutions rather than committing massive long-term resources to the All-Star outfielder. Sure, they could land him in free agency if he’s willing to take a shorter deal, but the writing appears to be on the wall. This opens the door for someone like Murakami, who could inject the kind of elite, left-handed power the Cubs would desperately need if Tucker ends up elsewhere.
The situation with Shota Imanaga adds another layer to this puzzle. The Cubs declined his three-year, $57.75 million club option and he declined his $15.25 million player option, making him a free agent who was then offered a qualifying offer worth $22.025 million. Here’s where things get really interesting because the Cubs made the same qualifying offer to both Tucker and Imanaga, essentially betting that both of them would reject it and they’d land draft-pick compensation. But what if the plan backfires? We’ll get back to that.
In terms of how Murakami compares to the Cubs’ current roster, the most logical comparison is to Seiya Suzuki. The difference is stark, though. Suzuki, who mostly served as the starting designated hitter during the 2025 season, still has one year left on his five-year, $85 million contract with Chicago. He hit .286 as a right fielder in 73 games this season and dropped to .236 as a designated hitter across 77 games, showing that his bat is better when he’s active in the field. Suzuki is a proven performer, but he’s 30 years old and already showing signs that his best days might be behind him at the plate. Murakami, on the other hand, is only 25 and has demonstrated consistent, elite power production in the NPB. Where Suzuki has struggled against secondary pitches this season, Murakami’s power tools project as translatable to Major League Baseball. The comparison highlights what the Cubs could be gaining: a younger, hungrier player with a higher ceiling than Suzuki currently represents.
One of the most intriguing aspects of potentially landing Murakami involves what the Cubs could do with their current roster. If Murakami signs with Chicago, it would primarily force him into a designated hitter role, given that Michael Busch is expected to be the starter at first base for years to come. This scenario would theoretically allow the Cubs to explore trading either Moisés Ballesteros or Miguel Amaya. Both young catchers have shown promise at various points, but neither has fully established himself as the long-term solution behind the plate. Ballesteros, a 21-year-old prospect who made his MLB debut this season, showed flashes of offensive potential with a .298 average and solid power production in limited at-bats. Amaya, who’s been with the organization longer, hasn’t quite broken through as the everyday catcher either. Trading one of these pieces could free up resources to help absorb Murakami’s posting fee and contract, making the deal more financially feasible for ownership.
Now here’s where Jed Hoyer’s strategy gets concerning. The Cubs president of baseball operations is likely expecting to use the savings generated from letting Tucker and Imanaga walk away to invest in other areas of the roster. The team extended qualifying offers to both players specifically to recoup draft-pick compensation if they signed elsewhere. The logic is sound in theory: lose two players, gain some draft capital and salary flexibility, then reinvest those resources. But here’s the problem that could derail the entire plan.
If Imanaga can’t find better terms elsewhere, he might actually accept that $22.025 million offer to stay with the Cubs for one more year. Teams are hesitant to give up draft picks to sign players, which significantly impacts the market for anyone turning down a qualifying offer. If Imanaga comes to this realization — that his market isn’t as strong as he hoped — he could very well find himself back in a Cubs uniform. This would be ironic because it would cost Hoyer both the draft pick compensation he was banking on and the salary flexibility he was counting on to pursue other targets like Murakami.
The Cubs need that financial breathing room if they’re going to be serious players for someone of Murakami’s caliber. His deal is projected to exceed $180 million, and with a posting fee that could reach nearly $20 million, the total financial commitment becomes enormous. Tom Ricketts’ ownership group hasn’t traditionally shown the appetite for that kind of spending, which is why Hoyer’s plan to create salary flexibility through free-agent departures made sense. But if Imanaga stays, that flexibility evaporates.
Here’s the thing, folks: This situation is simultaneously compelling and frustrating. Landing Munetaka Murakami would be a statement move that signals genuine commitment to building a championship-caliber roster. His elite power tool could transform the Cubs’ lineup, especially with younger players like Matt Shaw developing at third base. Keeping Shota Imanaga in the rotation also makes baseball sense — he’s been a stabilizing force despite his late-season struggles, and continuity matters. However, The reality is that Hoyer faces a delicate balancing act.
With that… The money saved from Tucker and Imanaga leaving could fund Murakami’s acquisition. But if Imanaga accepts the qualifying offer instead of leaving, that plan would likely collapse entirely. For Cubs fans hoping to see the team make a bold move, the next few weeks will be absolutely crucial in determining whether this offseason becomes a springboard for contention or another missed opportunity to strengthen at the margins.
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