A’s GM: ‘Always open’ for Kyler Murray if he returns to baseball

While a return to professional baseball remains unlikely for Kyler Murray, recent developments have at least reopened the conversation — something that MLB.com’s Martin Gallegos explored in a recent interview with Athletics general manager David Forst.

Back in the 2018 MLB Draft, the Oakland Athletics selected Murray with the No. 9 overall pick, intrigued by the rare athleticism he displayed as a center fielder at the University of Oklahoma.

At the time, Murray was balancing two sports at an elite level, starring on both the football field and baseball diamond. The A’s ultimately signed him to a deal that included a $4.66 million signing bonus, hoping he would begin his professional baseball journey in their organization.

(Photo by Michael Zagaris/Oakland Athletics/Getty Images)

Are the A’s open to Kyler Murray if he chooses baseball?

However, Murray’s path changed dramatically after a historic football season.

In 2018, he won the Heisman Trophy while leading Oklahoma as quarterback, instantly becoming one of the most intriguing prospects in the upcoming 2019 NFL Draft. Faced with a difficult decision between two professional careers, Murray ultimately chose football.

The Arizona Cardinals then selected him with the No. 1 overall pick, making him the face of their franchise and ending his brief baseball pursuit.

Now, years later, Murray’s NFL situation has created a small window for speculation. Reports surfaced this week that Arizona plans to release the 28-year-old quarterback when the new league year begins on March 11th, making him a free agent for the first time in his career.

While most expect him to continue playing football, the development naturally revived questions about whether the baseball door could ever reopen.

According to Gallegos, when Kyler Murray chose the NFL in 2019, the Athletics placed him on Major League Baseball’s restricted list. He forfeited most of the remaining money from his signing bonus, but the A’s retained his MLB rights in case he ever decided to return to the sport.

That technicality means the A’s would still control his path back to professional baseball if he were to make the unexpected move.

According to Forst, that possibility — however remote — is something the organization has never completely dismissed.

 (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

“Kyler is an elite NFL quarterback and I’m sure there are plenty of opportunities for him to continue his football career,” Forst told Gallegos. “That said, he and his baseball representatives know that we’re always open to him exploring a return to baseball with the A’s if that time ever comes.”

Before choosing the NFL, Kyler Murray was considered one of the most dynamic athletes in the 2018 draft class. In his final college baseball season with Oklahoma, he hit .296 with 10 home runs and 47 RBIs in 51 games, showcasing the speed and power that made scouts believe he could develop into a legitimate five-tool outfielder.

Realistically, Kyler Murray is still far more likely to continue his career in the NFL. Starting quarterbacks with his résumé rarely stay unsigned for long, and teams in need of a veteran signal-caller will almost certainly show interest.

Still, the unusual nature of Murray’s two-sport career means the baseball “what if” hasn’t fully disappeared.

The Athletics appear very welcome to the conversation if Murray ever decided to give the diamond another shot — even seven years after walking away from it.

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