Comparison to 2 former NY Mets should have fans rejecting a Munetaka Murakami signing

One of the more fascinating free agencies going on right now is Munetaka Murakami. The hype was Ruthian for the Japanese Babe Ruth only to cool off to an extreme as his posting date of December 22 nears. The New York Mets seemed like a natural fit in lieu of Pete Alonso. 

A power-hitting first baseman whose popularity in a foreign market could maybe land their team logo in an Indiana Jones movie on top of the head of a sidekick? Hey, why not!

The Athletic’s Eno Sarris just gave us more doubts about it. He crunched some numbers based on Murakami’s ability to hit certain pitches. He came up with some comparisons and along with the inclusion of two former Mets players, our mind is made up. No. Thank. You.

Munetaka Murakami isn’t the next Babe Ruth, he’s the next J.D. Davis

In theory, the Mets could still pursue Murakami. Jorge Polanco and he can co-exist on the roster. And as suggested in recent days, the doubts about his ability to hit faster pitches could always have him on a shorter deal where he can prove himself in MLB before getting his biggest payday.

Several of the names Sarris related Murakami to are frightening. J.D. Davis, an ex-Mets player who had early success, couldn’t keep up with faster pitches. The inclusion of Jose Siri makes Murakami seem even less satisfactory. At least Siri brings great defense and speed. Murakami is known as a bat-first, everything else second kind of player.

It’s beginning to look like Murakami is going to end up needing to prove himself before getting anything close to the kind of contract once predicted for him. An 8-year deal worth $180 million is what MLB Trade Rumors predicted a few months ago. If there’s an 8 in any part of his contract, it’s going to be the second number in the value.

The Mets didn’t even make Alonso a contract offer and a lot might have to do with his age by the end of a 5-year deal. Murakami is much younger but also more green. Unproven against MLB pitching, it would be a major swerve to take such a big gamble on a guy who seems beatable by even a below-average reliever who just needs to throw hard.

Sarris did further research and found a list of some of the same hitters with Keon Broxton added in as well. The conclusion: Murakami hits the ball hard but whiffs at a terrifying rate.