The Los Angeles Dodgers have targeted Munetaka Murakami! He is set to join Shohei Ohtani to form a Japanese duo in Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles Dodgers may soon welcome another strong Japanese batter! Munetaka Murakami, a heavy hitter from Japan’s NPB, has early on announced his plan to compete in the Major Leagues by 2026, and the Dodgers are among the teams most interested in him. Various media sources report that the Dodgers are strategically positioning themselves to have Murakami as their future third baseman successor.

Yakult Swallows’ slugger Munetaka Murakami has already made a bold statement about challenging MLB in 2026. Jon Heyman, a columnist for the New York Post, pointed out that the Dodgers, Mariners, Yankees, Red Sox, and Mets have all shown strong interest in Murakami, viewing him as a top prospect on the free agent market. The publication predicts the Dodgers are very likely to sign Murakami to a six-year deal, making him their future third baseman to play alongside Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Roki Sasaki.

However, the Dodgers currently have Freddie Freeman anchoring first base and Shohei Ohtani as their designated hitter, which confines Murakami’s role to third base and adds some uncertainty to his potential signing with the Dodgers. Given this, the left-handed hitter-friendly Yankees, who also have a first base spot available, may be a more attractive option for Murakami.

Additionally, the Seattle Mariners in the American League West could be another option for Murakami. Heyman analyzed: “Although the Mariners acquired Eugenio Suarez through a trade, I don’t believe they will re-sign him in free agency. The Mariners have the financial resources and have successfully signed Japanese players before, especially with Ichiro Suzuki, a Mariners legend, being inducted into the Hall of Fame this year and having his number 51 retired by the team. In my opinion, the Mariners are a very good fit for Munetaka Murakami.”