Munetaka Murakami’s red flags should scare the hell out of the Mariners

World Baseball Classic Semifinals: Mexico v Japan | Eric Espada/GettyImagesFor all the buzz about Munetaka Murakami potentially making the jump to MLB, the hype is starting to look more like a high-voltage risk than a sure-fire investment — especially for a team like the Seattle Mariners. ESPN recently labeled Seattle as Murakami’s “best fit,” which sounds flattering on the surface, but it also reeks of the kind of match that ignores the actual swing data.

Murakami’s strength isn’t the question. Since 2021, he’s averaged more than 35 homers a year in NPB and can punish mistakes with the kind of loft and carry any front office dreams on. The issue is what you have to live with to get that…