With the clock ticking down to Monday's deadline to declare for the NFL draft, the Oakland A's met with Heisman Trophy winner Kyler Murray on Sunday to discuss the dual-sport star's options.
Team president Billy Beane led the A's contingent, which made its case for Murray bypassing the NFL to concentrate on baseball, USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale reports , citing two people with knowledge of the meeting. The people requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation.
The A's selected Murray, an outfielder, with the ninth overall pick in the MLB draft last June, giving him a $4.66 million signing bonus and allowing him to return to the University of Oklahoma in the fall to play football.
Kyler Murray waits to hit during batting practice before an Oakland A's baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels on June 15, 2018. (Photo: Jeff Chiu, AP)
However, his unexpected success sent his NFL draft stock soaring.
More: NFL or MLB? Explaining what's next for Kyler Murray in draft decision process
Taking over as the starting quarterback for 2017 Heisman winner Baker Mayfield, Murray passed for 4,361 yards and 42 touchdowns in leading the Sooners to a 12-2 record, a Big 12 championship and a berth in the College Football Playoffs.
The A's have said they expect Murray to report to Mesa, Arizona, when spring training opens on Feb. 15. However, he's given indications recently he could enter the NFL draft to gauge his potential value in pro football.
Even though he's yet to play in the minor leagues, the A's could offer Murray a major league contract that would more closely correspond to the amount of money he'd receive as a first-round NFL draft pick. However, that would force them to put him on their 40-man roster immediately.
If Murray did decide to pursue an NFL career, the A's would still retain his rights should he decide to return to baseball.
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Jan. 11: The Blue Jays traded catcher Russell Martin to the Dodgers for RHP Andrew Sopko and INF Ronny Brito. Patrick Gorski, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Dec. 21: The Dodgers traded OF Yasiel Puig, OF Matt Kemp and LHP Alex Wood to the Reds for RHP Homer Bailey and two prospects. Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Dec. 21: The Dodgers traded OF Matt Kemp, OF Yasiel Puig and LHP Alex Wood to the Reds for RHP Homer Bailey and two prospects. Gary A. Vasquez, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Dec. 21: The Dodgers traded LHP Alex Wood, OF Matt Kemp and OF Yasiel Puig to the Reds for RHP Homer Bailey and two prospects. Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Dec. 21: The Reds traded RHP Homer Bailey and two prospects to the Dodgers for OF Matt Kemp, OF Yasiel Puig and LHP Alex Wood. Charles LeClaire, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Dec. 21: Athletics get INF Jurickson Profar from Texas Rangers in three-team deal with Tampa Bay Rays. Richard Mackson, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Dec. 15: The Indians traded 1B Yonder Alonso to the White Sox for minor league OF Alex Call. David Richard, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Dec. 13: Indians traded designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion to Mariners in three-way deal with Rays, getting Carlos Santana and Jake Bauers in return. Ken Blaze, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Dec. 13: Mariners traded first baseman Carlos Santana in three-team deal with Rays, receiving Edwin Encarnacion. Bill Streicher, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Dec. 13: Tampa Bay sends first baseman Jake Bauers to Indians in three-team deal, getting Yandy Diaz and prospect Cole Sulser from Cleveland. Wendell Cruz, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Dec. 11: The Pirates traded RHP Ivan Nova to the White Sox for minor league RHP Yordi Rosario and future considerations. John Hefti, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Dec. 5: The Diamondbacks traded 1B Paul Goldschmidt to the Cardinals for C Carson Kelly, RHP Luke Weaver, INF Andy Young and a compensation pick. Joe Camporeale, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Dec. 5: Cardinals traded RHP Luke Waver, C Carson Kelly, INF Andy Young and a compensation pick to the Diamondbacks for 1B Paul Goldschmidt. Jeff Curry,USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Dec. 3: The Mariners traded 2B Robinson Cano, RHP Edwin Diaz and cash to the Mets for OF Jay Bruce, RHP Anthony Swarzak and minor league RHP Gerson Bautista, OF Jarred Kelenic and RHP Justin Dunn. Joe Nicholson, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Dec. 3: The Mariners traded RHP Edwin Diaz, 2B Robinson Cano and cash to the Mets for OF Jay Bruce, RHP Anthony Swarzak and minor league RHP Gerson Bautista, OF Jarred Kelenic and RHP Justin Dunn. Troy Taormina, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Dec. 3: The Mets traded OF Jay Bruce, RHP Anthony Swarzak and minor league RHP Gerson Bautista, OF Jarred Kelenic and RHP Justin Dunn to the Mariners for 2B Robinson Cano, RHP Edwin Diaz and cash. Brett Davis, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Dec. 3: The Mariners traded SS Jean Segura, RHP Juan Nicasio and LHP James Pazos to the Phillies for 1B Carlos Santana and SS J.P. Crawford. Joe Nicholson, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Dec. 3: The Phillies traded 1B Carlos Santana and SS J.P. Crawford to the Mariners for SS Jean Segura, RHP Juan Nicasio and LHP James Pazos. Aaron Doster, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Nov. 30: The Mariners traded RHP Alex Colome to the White Sox for C Omar Narvaez. Joe Nicholson, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Nov. 30: The Indians traded C Yan Gomes to the Nationals for minor league RHP Jefry Rodriguez, OF Daniel Johnson and Player To Be Named Later. Kim Klement, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Nov. 28: The Yankees traded INF Ronald Torreyes to the Cubs for Player To Be Named Later. Gregory Fisher, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Nov. 19: The Mariners traded LHP James Paxton to the Yankees for minor league LHP Justus Sheffield, RHP Erik Swanson and OF Dom Thompson-Williams. Troy Taormina, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Nov. 8: The Mariners traded C Mike Zunino, OF Guillermo Heredia and minor league LHP Michael Plassmeyer to the Rays for OF Mallex Smith and minor league OF Jake Fraley. Kiyoshi Mio, USA TODAY Sports Fullscreen Interested in this topic? You may also want to view these photo galleries: Replay 1 of 23 2 of 23 3 of 23 4 of 23 5 of 23 6 of 23 7 of 23 8 of 23 9 of 23 10 of 23 11 of 23 12 of 23 13 of 23 14 of 23 15 of 23 16 of 23 17 of 23 18 of 23 19 of 23 20 of 23 21 of 23 22 of 23 23 of 23 Autoplay Show Thumbnails Show Captions Last Slide Next Slide
