Bombshell Report Links Yankees to Elite Japanese Prospect as International Market Heats Up

Yankees linked to top Japanese international prospect by Jon Heyman originally appeared on The Sporting News

International free agents have been some of the top players in Major League Baseball recently, so for teams like the New York Yankees, they have to have some level of interest in them.

Reports have indicated in the past few years that the Yankees have really ramped up their international scouting department, especially in Japan.

Brian Cashman has been seen at multiple games, as well as scouts. With one international star coming over from Japan, Munetaka Murakami, if he gets posted, the Yankees would be a great fit.

Yankees ready to pursue Munetaka Murakami

According to Jon Heyman of the New York Post, they’re one of the many teams that could end up landing him.

“Power is undeniable (17 HR in 46 games, 56 HR in 2022) for the two-time Central League MVP, and he’s only 25. Mets, Yankees, Dodgers, Red Sox, Cubs, Mariners, Angels,” he wrote.

While it’s enticing to think about what Murakami could do during in the Bronx if he signed with the Yankees, Jeff Passan of ESPN reported that the 25-year-old might not get posted this winter. He’s played well again in Japan, but has only appeared in 48 games. Despite that, in those 48 games, he has 20 home runs and 40 RBIs.

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“The Japanese revolution in MLB is not slowing down, and another impressive group is expected to come stateside for the 2026 season. Right-hander Tatsuya Imai and a pair of slugging third basemen — Munetaka Murakami and Kazuma Okamoto — hope to play in MLB, according to sources, though their doing so depends on their Nippon Professional Baseball teams’ willingness to enter them into the posting system that serves as a conduit to the big leagues for those NPB players who have yet to play the nine years necessary for international free agency,” he wrote.

Many in the industry view Murakami as a generational talent, so if the Yankees end up signing him, they should eventually be getting one of the top first basemen in Major League Baseball.

He also plays third base, which was a prior area of need for the Yankees before landing Ryan McMahon.