According to Mike Leslie of WFAA in Dallas, Texas, if the Oakland Athletics want Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray to choose baseball over declaring for the NFL Draft, he wants them to show him the money. A whole lot of money.
Despite being named the 2018 Heisman Trophy winner last month, Murray, who passed for 4,053 yards with 40 touchdowns and seven interceptions, was selected by the Athletics with the 9th overall pick. The two-sport athlete was signed by the A's to a $4.66 million signing bonus, the maximum amount allotted to the team for their first-round pick. For Oakland to meet Murray's financial demands, the organization would need to offer him a guaranteed MLB contract.
It's an unprecedented move, but it's one that even has the backing of the MLB.
Murray hit .296 with 56 hits, 10 home runs and 47 RBI last season as an outfielder for Oklahoma. He will ultimately need to make his decision by the deadline for declaring for the 2019 NFL Draft: Monday, January 14.
