MLB Trade Rumors: Trade to NL Projected for White Sox Import Munetaka Murakami

The Chicago White Sox are coming off three consecutive 100-loss seasons, so it's safe to say that their rebuild is still a ways away from reaching a competitive point. They did, however, go out this offseason and make a notable signing, landing Japanese import Munetaka Murakami.

But how much use will the 26-year-old slugger be to a team with not much else around him? He carries a .951 OPS with him to North America from his eight years in the Nippon Professional Baseball league in Japan. But he also brings a lot of big swing-and-miss to his game.

The ChiSox are hoping he shows enough to at least allow them flip him at the deadline. At least, that's the projection from Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report. He predicts that Murakami might not make it to the end of the season on the South Side.

What happens if Murakami does a pretty good impersonation of "peak Joey Gallo" for four months while things otherwise go every bit as poorly for Chicago as the past three seasons have?
Goodness knows, these would-be sellers don't have a whole lot to sell.

He suggests that the Pale Hose should turn Murakami into some prospects in a trade deadline deal.

He even predicts that the Pittsburgh Pirates will come calling.

The Bucos had their busiest offseason in as long as anyone can remember, adding sluggers Marcell Ozuna for DH and Brandon Lowe at 2B, as well as Ryan O'Hearn for the outfield, among other additions. They'll also be debuting the top prospect in all of baseball in superstar rookie Konnor Griffin. And don't forget NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes.

If the Pirates are in the chase for a playoff spot, they could look to fill one of their generally weak infield corner spots with Murakami.