Only 48 hours remain for Munetaka Murakami to enter the MLB negotiation window, with the White Sox confirming that talks have begun.

Munetaka Murakami, the slugger with 246 career home runs in Japan's professional league, has a negotiation window that will close at 5 PM ET on December 22 (6 AM Beijing Time December 23), and he has not signed yet. According to MLB reporters Mark Feinsand and Scott Merkin, as the deadline approaches, the Chicago White Sox are among the teams “in contact with Murakami's representatives.”

In the 2022 season, Murakami hit 56 home runs, setting a new single-season record for domestic players in NPB and winning the Central League Triple Crown. However, concerns about his high strikeout rate and defensive skills have caused several MLB teams to remain cautious about his ability to adapt.

Besides the White Sox, the Twitter account "Yankeesource," which closely follows Yankees news, reported that the Colorado Rockies have also shown interest in Murakami. Jim Duquette, analyst for MLB Network Radio and former Mets GM, suggested that teams undergoing rebuilding might consider taking a risk on him. The White Sox and Rockies, who finished last in the American and National Leagues respectively last season with only 60 and 43 wins, are regarded as the most likely potential destinations.