Clearing the air on the Phillies and the NPB Pipeline: Murakami, Okamoto, Imai and what actually matters

We have been talking about the Phillies interest NPB players all week, so it is time to clear up the confusion and lay everything out in one place.

There are three legitimate names in the Japanese pipeline worth talking about. We already covered two of them in detail: starting pitcher Tatsuya Imai and right-handed slugger Kazuma Okamoto.

Now it is time to talk about the third and the biggest name in the group, Munetaka Murakami, while also addressing the lazy concern that the Japanese hitters mentioned cannot hit MLB velocity.

Before we get into Murakami, let’s address the pitching environment difference between NPB and MLB, because this comes up every single year with every single hitter who makes the jump.

The idea that Japanese hitters cannot handle anything above a 93 mph pitch is not new. It was said about Shohei Ohtani too. Every scouting report at the time insisted Ohtani needed around 500 minor league at-bats before becoming MLB ready.

Writers argued he had barely seen a real curveball, that NPB pitchers focus more on sequencing and command than raw velocity, and that the vertical strike zone in MLB would overwhelm him.

Fast forward, and Shohei Ohtani walked into MLB and immediately became one of the best players to ever live. So yes, NPB hitters will always need to adjust to MLB pitching. That has always been true. It is not a reason to dismiss anyone coming over. It never has been.

Now let’s get to the names.

Munetaka Murakami: The Golden Goose

Back in October, MLB insider Mark Feinsand reported that the Phillies were expected to be one of the top suitors for Munetaka Murakami. He is 25 years old, already a two-time NPB MVP, and he hit 56 home runs in 2022 while winning Japan’s Triple Crown.

Munetaka Murakami Rakes

Munetaka Murakami's 143-game pace:

163 hits
25 doubles
74 Home Runs
143 RBI's
57 BB
184 K's

Although the strikeouts remain a huge concern, this is genuinely ridiculous. pic.twitter.com/fkLp5tn5Ns

— LouisAnalysis (@LouisAnalysis) September 6, 2025

Murakami is the most talented hitter coming from Japan this winter. He is also the least likely of the three for the Phillies to land. Not impossible, but certainly the most complicated fit.

Feinsand listed the Phillies alongside the Yankees, Mets, Mariners, Dodgers, Giants, and Red Sox. What made the Phillies interesting at the time was the possibility of replacing Kyle Schwarber at DH and moving Bryce Harper either back to the outfield or sliding him depending on how the roster shook out.

Obviously, that changed the minute the Phillies re-signed Schwarber to a five-year, 150 million dollar deal. He is here through 2030. Harper is at first base. That does not eliminate Murakami entirely, but it does make the puzzle harder to solve.

Phillies reportedly among top suitors for Japanese superstar Munetaka Murakami

Kazuma Okamoto: The Perfect Fit

If Murakami is the superstar, Kazuma Okamoto is the most immediate and realistic fit. He is 29 years old with over 245 career homers, elite bat-to-ball skills, and a steadier offensive profile than Murakami.

He also strikes out far less and does not carry the same volatility. He played first base, third base, and left field in NPB, which gives the Phillies positional flexibility whether they trade Alec Bohm or rotate the DH spot.

He is projected to land around three years and $40 million dollars including posting fees. That is nothing for a player who would be in the lineup from day one.

Kazuma Okamoto might be the Phillies’ best offseason fit

Tatsuya Imai: The Rotation Arm

This is the one NPB player who has already been directly linked to the Phillies in a meaningful way. Tatsuya Imai has the stuff and profile that Dave Dombrowski targets.

He also fills a very obvious need, especially with Ranger Suarez expected to walk after 2025. Imai is the kind of pitcher you sign to stabilize the middle of your rotation for the next four or five years.

Phillies appear to be the only MLB team mentioned in Japan for Tatsuya Imai, maybe it’s finally happening

The Phillies Payroll Reality

The Phillies were already tax payers, and they will continue to be tax payers. Schwarber’s extension pushes their projected 2026 tax payroll to roughly 267.7 million before any new additions.

That number will jump again once JT Realmuto signs an extension, which the Phillies already have an offer out for.

In 2025, their luxury tax payroll hit an estimated 313 million dollars, putting them into the highest penalty tier. None of this matters if you are serious about winning a World Series. The Phillies can and should keep spending. Injecting high-end Japanese talent into this lineup is exactly the type of aggressive move a team in their window should be making.

The Phillies NPB Fever Dream:

• Sign Tatsuya Imai to solidify the rotation.
• Sign Kazuma Okamoto to anchor either third base or left field.
• Sign Munetaka Murakami if you want to detonate the entire National League.

Move Harper back to right field. Move Bohm if you find value. Plug in two elite Japanese bats and a rotation upgrade. This is how you revitalize a roster that cannot afford to waste this core’s championship window and the biggest payroll in franchise history.

The Phillies are in their win now era. There is every reason to keep spending. The NPB pipeline is the perfect way to do it.

It’s time for the Phillies to go all-in on the NPB market to rebuild the 2026 roster

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