It is no secret that the Yankees are on their way to making a powerful roster for the next season. So, their focus now is fixed on an international star. Munetaka Murakami‘s .891 OPS across his last three NPB seasons makes the star an appealing individual. But despite the hype, there is growing skepticism about whether the international star fits the Yankees’ current roster.

Brian Cashman’s lineup is crowded at the corners, and there are two particular roadblocks for the Japanese sensation. Ben Rice and Austin Wells.

With Ben Rice growing as a promising lefty on the team, Cashman’s team could have its first baseman for the next season. Murakami’s defensive lapses make the 25-year-old unlikely to stick at third base, and it can establish a positional battle. Ryan Garcia has explained the issue effectively.

“Ben Rice wrapped up a season where he finished inside the top 25 in wRC+ and inside the top 10 in Expected OPS, which indicates he has tons of potential to improve in 2026. He could finish as a hitter who is 35-40% better than the league-average bat, and it’s incredibly difficult to project a hitter who could strike out over 35% of the time to even be an above-average hitter. If the Yankees move Rice to catcher, they could make room for Murakami, but the team would be benching Austin Wells, who has been worth 3 WAR in each of the last two seasons.”

Though not an elite star with the bat, Wells‘ .712 OPS is 20 points above the league-average scheduled for catchers. Plus, his defense is trustworthy, and it ranks fifth in fielding run value with +11. Benching Wells to play with Ben Rice will be a risky experiment. Ryan Garcia explained it further.

“For all of Wells’ disappointments offensively, he’s still an above-average hitter relative to his position while being an elite defender. I’m not entirely against the idea of starting Ben Rice at catcher if the team believes he’s going to make a massive defensive leap, since that could result in a 4-5 WAR player, but Munetaka Murakami wouldn’t be why I take that risk.”

Now, the team’s pursuit of the Japanese Sensation is not just related to skill. It is related to fit. Last season, in only 63 games at 3B, Murakami made six errors. For each of the four seasons before that, he had at least 13. And in 2023, it stood at his career-high 22. That’s even more than Anthony Volpe this season, and that too, not in MLB. 

So, with two proven stars delivering value at an elite position, Brian Cashman needs to choose whether another high-strikeout and power-fit international star is worth the financial and positional gamble.

But meanwhile, an AL contender could be prepared to pounce on the scope.

Red Sox can target Munetaka Murakami 

The Boston Red Sox could find themselves among the frontrunners for Munetaka Murakami this winter, particularly after Alex Bregman decided to opt out, leaving a blatant gap at third base. Murakami has logged 75% of his professional games at the hot corner for the Yakult Swallows. So, he can be a good replacement. His versatility also permits him to move over to first base, creating flexibility if the clubhouse decides to move on from Triston Casas.

As per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, the Red Sox are “in the mix” for the Japanese slugger, joining the Yankees, Phillies, Mets, and Mariners. That competitive bidding mirrors Murakami’s star power, a slugger with 246 homers in 892 games and a Triple Crown title under his belt.

But his power stats jump off the page, and franchises remain cautious about his transition, specifically given his latest 30% strikeout rate and dwindling walk numbers.

Even with those problems, the RedSox’s motivation is entirely clear.

The clubhouse’s previous foreign investment in Masataka Yoshida proved that Boston is not afraid to go lavish in the Japanese market. Murakami’s estimated $200-300 million price tag would show a key step up. But one American League executive pointed out the dilemma.

“He has big power, but there appear to be a lot of holes in that swing.”

That equation reflects some of the doubts heard around the Yankees’ camp, yet Boston’s positional requirements and payroll flexibility make them more convincing to take that risk. 

The chase for Munetaka Murakami is rapidly transforming into one of the most interesting storylines this offseason. While the Yankees are weighing their roster options, the Red Sox could strike if Bregman goes. Whether he lands in pinstripes or at Fenway, Murakami’s MLB debut promises to revamp the American League power balance.