The 25-year-old slugger who has been dubbed the "Japanese Babe Ruth" is now a free agent, available to be signed by any major league team . But one former Boston Red Sox player who is now a TV analyst for the team is already warning against signing Munetaka Murakami. The Nippon Professional Baseball single-season home run record-holder (56 in 2022) entered the posting system Friday.

That means, while any major league team may negotiate with Murakami, the team that lands him will be required to pay a hefty fee to his NPB team, the Tokyo Yakult Swallows , in addition to whatever salary they agree upon with the eight-year NPB veteran .

Murakami is "widely expected to fetch a nine-figure deal," according to ESPN baseball insider Jeff Passan. But there is one statistic that came to

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