Munetaka Murakami's posting window closes Monday at 5 p.m. ET, with teams weighing between long-term commitments and short-term prove-it deals for the 25-year-old Japanese slugger, according to a report from The Athletic.

Tim Britton of The Athletic projected an eight-year, $158.5 million contract for Murakami at the offseason's start. However, scouts remain divided on whether his elite power translates to sustained MLB success given concerns about his defense, contact rates and adjustment ability.

One National League executive who scouted Murakami sees parallels to Kyle Schwarber's career trajectory. Schwarber was non-tendered by Chicago after 2020, signed a one-year deal with Washington, then secured four years and $79 million from Philadelphia in March 2022. This winter, Schwarber re-signed with the Phillies on a five-year, $150 million deal.

"I absolutely think it is and makes a lot of sense because of the tools, physical attributes they both have — with defense dings (and) high K rates," the executive said. "The tricky part I would add is that a guy like Schwarber was renowned since he was in college for his makeup and work ethic."

Since 2022, Schwarber has averaged 46.8 home runs and a .856 OPS per season.

Murakami posted a 96.5 mph average exit velocity in NPB last season, exceeding Schwarber's 94.3 mph MLB mark. His chase rate (24 percent), walk rate (14 percent) and strikeout rate (29 percent) compare favorably to Schwarber's MLB numbers.

The concern centers on Murakami's struggles against 95 mph-plus fastballs in Japan. He will face significantly more high-velocity pitching in MLB. His 23.4 percent zone whiff rate in NPB was better than Shohei Ohtani's 26.9 percent mark at a younger age.

Teams must decide by Monday whether to offer long-term security or allow Murakami to prove himself on a shorter deal.