If you're waiting on the A's to get a pick after Kyler Murray's decision to pursue an NFL career, don't hold your breath.
The A's will not receive a compensatory pick in light of the Heisman Trophy winner's announcement, but will retain his rights, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. They reportedly will get back most of his signing bonus, too.
Kyler Murray will return $1.29 million of the $1.5 million signing bonus money the Oakland A's gave him last year. He forfeits the remaining $3.16 million due March 1. The A's will put him on the restricted list and retain Murray's rights, but they don't get a comp draft pick.— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) February 11, 2019
Murray reportedly received a signing bonus of $4.66 million when he signed with the A's last June. Oakland selected the Oklahoma Sooner with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft, and envisioned him becoming a future fixture in their outfield.
Those dreams will be put on hold, as Murray is expected to be a first-round pick in April's NFL draft. But since they will retain his rights, the A's say they're still keeping that possibility in mind if Murray ultimately chooses to return to baseball.
"We've known from the tone of our conversations that he could choose the NFL," A's general manager David Forst told reporters in Arizona on Monday. "We'll focus on what we need to do if he comes back to baseball at some point, and he'll come back with the A's."
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But with spring training getting underway, the A's would surely much rather be asking "how soon" than "what if" about the 21-year-old.
