Dodgers might have tipped their hand with another star Japanese free agent

Although confidence in the Dodgers' chances of signing Roki Sasaki seems to be waning with recent rumors that he might prefer to go to a small-market team, if the Dodgers do get him, they'll have three of Team Japan's four most-hyped players. Sasaki, Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and slugger Munetaka Murakami dominated the conversation during the 2023 World Baseball Classic.

The former three have all made or will soon be making their journeys over to MLB, and Murakami is reportedly up next. On Sunday, Yahoo Sports Japan reported that 2025 would be his last season in NPB before exploring free agency in MLB.

Eyes turned to the Dodgers as soon as the news broke. Even if they don't get Sasaki, it's become clear that LA is the premier destination for Japanese superstars, and Murakami's absolutely ridiculous 2022 season — when he was an All-Star and won his second MVP and the Triple Crown — makes it clear he'll have a market in the States.

However, the Dodgers might've painted themselves into a corner where they won't be able to accommodate Murakami, a corner infielder who may make the move to permanent DH in MLB.

Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami is coming to MLB in 2026, but the Dodgers may not be an obvious destination

Murakami had a slightly underwhelming WBC after coming off of a 224 wRC+ season for NPB's Yakult Swallows. He hit a solo homer in the final against Team USA, his only homer of the tournament, and was responsible for the walk-off double against Team Mexico in the semi-finals, but Ohtani, veteran catcher Yuhei Nakamura, and Masataka Yoshida all put up far more impressive offensive showings than Murakami.

It foreshowed a disappointing 2023, when he hit .256 with a .875 OPS. That isn't a bad season by most accounts, but it was a far cry from his .318/1.168 2022 season when he also hit 56 home runs. His performance continued to decline in 2024, but he hit two more home runs than he had the previous season, constituting his fifth 30+ homer year. The upcoming 2025 season will be pivotal for him to raise his stock before exploring MLB's free agent market.

However, even if he does enough to prove that he should be a must-have for the Dodgers in 2026, there may not be room for him on the field. Both first base and DH are completely locked down as long as Freddie Freeman and Shohei Ohtani are under contract, and third base is questionable. The Dodgers have a team option for Max Muncy in 2026, which they could choose not to exercise, but if recent Nolan Arenado trade rumors amount to anything this offseason, third will be off-limits through 2027.

It's likely the Dodgers will still check in on Murakami when he's posted, even if there doesn't seem to be room for him on the roster when the time comes. After all, they seem pretty set on completing their collection of potential Japanese Hall of Famers.