New Delhi, Dec. 22 -- The Chicago White Sox have made a significant offseason move by agreeing to a two-year, $34 million contract with Japanese power hitter Munetaka Murakami. The deal, which includes a posting fee of approximately $6.575 million to the Tokyo Yakult Swallows, marks the rebuilding team's first major free-agent signing in years.

Munetaka Murakami, a 25-year-old left-handed slugger, will join the White Sox on a short-term contract that will allow him to hit free agency again at age 27. The $34 million total falls well below initial expectations, especially when compared to the $90 million deal Masataka Yoshida received from the Boston Red Sox three years ago, the richest ever for a Japanese position player.

Despite intere...