CHICAGO — The Chicago White Sox, currently in a rebuilding phase, have made a significant addition to their roster by signing Japanese power hitter Munetaka Murakami. The team announced on Sunday that they had reached a two-year agreement worth $34 million with the slugger.

As Murakami prepares to celebrate his 26th birthday on February 2, he joins a promising lineup of young talents, including Colson Montgomery, Kyle Teel, and Chase Meidroth. The White Sox, who ended this season at the bottom of the AL Central with a record of 60-102, showed marked improvement with a 19-game increase from the prior year.

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The contract details reveal that Murakami will receive a $1 million signing bonus, payable within 30 days, along with an annual salary of $16 million for the upcoming year and $17 million for the 2027 season.

His potential earnings in 2027 could increase based on his performance in 2026. He could earn an additional $1 million if he wins the MVP award, $500,000 if he places second or third, $250,000 for ranking fourth through tenth, and another $250,000 if he is named Rookie of the Year.

The agreement includes a clause that prevents the White Sox from assigning Murakami to the minor leagues without his consent. At the conclusion of his contract, he will become a free agent. The deal also provides for a team-supplied interpreter and covers flight costs between Japan and the United States.

Chicago owes a posting fee of $6,575,000 to Yakult, Murakami’s Central League team. The Swallows also would receive a supplemental fee of 15% of any triggered escalators.

Murakami would become the fourth Japanese-born player to play for the White Sox, joining Shingo Takatsu (2004-05), second baseman Tadahito Iguchi (2005-07) and outfielder Kosuke Fukudome (2012). Takatsu managed Murakami in Japan.

Murakami, who bats from the left side, is slated to be formally introduced at a press conference on Monday.

Murakami was Central League MVP in 2021 and ’22. The corner infielder was limited to 56 games this season because of an oblique injury. He struck out 64 times, but he batted .273 with 22 homers and 47 RBIs.

Murakami hit 56 homers in 2022 to break Sadaharu Oh’s record for a Japanese-born player in Nippon Professional Baseball while becoming the youngest player to earn Japan’s Triple Crown. He topped 30 homers in four straight years before an injury-interrupted season in 2023.

He has a .270 career average with 246 homers, 647 RBIs and 977 strikeouts in 892 games over eight Central League seasons, all with the Swallows.

After playing primarily at first base in 2019 and 2020, he has spent most of his time since at third.

At the 2023 World Baseball Classic, Murakami hit a game-ending double off Giovanny Gallegos that drove in Shohei Ohtani and Masataka Yoshida for a 6-5 semifinal win over Mexico. The following day in the championship game, Murakami hit a tying home run off Merrill Kelly in the second inning and Japan went on to beat the United States 3-2.

Under the agreement between MLB and NPB, the posting fee is 20% of the first $25 million of a major league contract, including earned bonuses and options. The percentage drops to 17.5% of the next $25 million and 15% of any amount over $50 million.

AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum contributed to this report.