Throughout the regular season, the New York Yankees struggled to be the team that reached the World Series last year. While injuries marred many issues for them, more came from their defensive disabilities. So, entering the offseason after losing to their ALDS opponents in Toronto Blue Jays, the writing on the wall was clear for GM Aaron Boone. Yet, they have shown interest in the Japanese star, Munetaka Murakami, dubbed as Aaron Judge 2.0. But as their 2025 reports suggest, they should stay away from him.

In a recent piece by Alexander Wilson of Empire Sports Media, he discussed the same topic. He wrote, “Murakami’s offensive production in Japan is impossible to ignore, but the Yankees’ current roster construction — and his defensive limitations — suggest this might be one of those times when they sit out the sweepstakes… Defensively, Murakami’s profile is less convincing… That’s where the Yankees’ fit issues begin to surface.”

The interest makes sense… but only on the surface.

Munetaka Murakami’s rise in Japan has been nothing short of extraordinary. The 25-year-old Yakult Swallows corner infielder has hit 246 home runs in 892 NPB games. His 56 homers in 2022 stand as the most ever by a Japanese-born player in a single season. That same year, he won the Triple Crown at age 22, becoming the youngest in league history to do so. His .273 career average and a 1.051 OPS in 2025 have fueled comparisons to Aaron Judge, not for style but for his game-changing power.

Murakami’s potential jump to MLB has drawn heavy attention. His left-handed swing could thrive in Yankee Stadium, where the short right-field porch rewards power hitters. The Yankees also value players with international marketability, something Murakami already carries after two MVP awards and four All-Star selections.

However, New York’s current roster complicate any potential pursuit.

• Murakami played 95% of the times on the third base but the Yankees addressed third base at the trade deadline when they acquired Ryan McMahon. The lefty, unlike Murakami, also brings Gold Glove-level defense.
• Also, first baseman Ben Rice has emerged as a legitimate offensive contributor and appears to be part of the Yankees’ long-term plans at first base. Rice hit .255 with 26 home runs this season, providing both power and flexibility at first base and designated hitter.
• With Giancarlo Stanton still occupying the DH role and his contract further limit any clear lineup opening for Murakami.

Although the team is set to lose multiple players in free agency and that might be the reason why the Yankees are shadowing the Japanese star, the problems he himself brings also cannot be ignored. Let’s breakdown where the Swallows player loses the Yankees’ possible interest.

• His defense has been evaluated as average, and scouts have raised concerns about strikeouts nearing 30 percent. Murakami’s power and global appeal fit the Yankees’ brand perfectly, but the team’s roster balance and positional depth make this connection more symbolic than realistic.
• There’s also Murakami’s strikeout rate. The past three seasons, his strikeout rate has increased between 28.1 and 29.5 percent, including 180 strikeouts in 610 plate appearances in 2024.
• Murakami’s walk rate, which has dipped from a career-high 19.3 percent in his monster 2022 season to 14.3 percent this past year is also a concern.

Conclusively, Murakami may have the power of Aaron Judge, but the New York Yankees already have their slugger. What they lack isn’t another home run bat, but space to fit one more. If history repeats, New York might watch the Japanese star light up someone else’s skyline.

The Yankees are trying to put an All-Star Slugger on the chopping block

The New York Yankees are reportedly open to trading second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. Chisholm, a 27-year-old All-Star, is set to become a free agent after the 2026 season. Sherman suggests trading him could free up money for Cody Bellinger and potentially acquire prospects.

Chisholm’s 2025 season included career highs of 31 home runs and 80 RBIs, reflecting strong production. Jon Heyman notes that trading him would be difficult, as no second baseman could match his output without major roster changes. The Yankees acquired Chisholm from the Marlins before the 2024 trade deadline, and he made crucial contributions in the 2025 playoffs.

For the Yankees, deciding Chisholm’s future will test both strategy and fan patience severely. Brian Cashman must weigh immediate gains against losing a dynamic talent fans already adore deeply. In New York, brilliance can be a burden, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. embodies that perfectly. But Boone has many decisions to make, only time will tell how he solves his rosters’ biggest issues.