A’s willing to bring in former MLB draft pick Kyler Murray after Cardinals exit: ‘Always open to him’

Could Kyler Murray change sports?

One MLB club certainly wouldn’t mind.

Murray, who is expected to be released by the Arizona Cardinals ahead of the new NFL year, was selected by the A’s as the No. 9 overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft.

He eventually went back to Oklahoma, though, winning the Heisman Trophy and getting taken as the top overall pick in the NFL.

That all but ended his baseball-playing career.

But the A’s are keeping the door open as Murray is soon to be without an NFL team.

Kyler Murray throws a pass during the Cardinals’ win over the Titans at State Farm Stadium on Oct. 5, 2025 in Glendale, Ariz. Getty Images

“Kyler is an elite NFL quarterback and I’m sure there are plenty of opportunities for him to continue his football career,” A’s general manager David Forst told MLB.com. “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.”

Murray, an outfielder, signed a $4.6 million contract with the A’s after the 2018 draft, with the deal allowing him to play college football with the Sooners before coming to the baseball team the next year.

However, in February of ’19, Murray posted a statement to Twitter where he said he had changed his mind and he was going to pursue professional football.

“Moving forward, I am firmly and fully committing my life and time to becoming an NFL quarterback,” Murray wrote. “Football has been my love and passion my entire life. I was raised to play QB, and I very much look forward to dedicating 100% of myself to being the best QB possible and winning NFL championships.”

First-round draft pick Kyler Murray of the A’s takes batting practice after signing his contract at the Oakland
Alameda Coliseum on June 15, 2018. Getty Images

Murray played two seasons on Oklahoma’s baseball team, hitting .261/.381/.466 with 10 home runs and 53 RBIs.

Before the 2019 season, he ranked as the A’s No. 4 prospect on MLB Pipeline, with a 50/80 overall grade.

The A’s, meanwhile, have a young core of major leaguers — particularly in their lineup — that makes them a promising team in the American League West.

They inked All-Star shortstop Jacob Wilson and outfielder Tyler Soderstrom to seven-year extensions this offseason as they look to improve upon a 76-win 2025. Fangraphs projects the team to have a four-win improvement in 2026.

Murray said Tuesday after the news of his Arizona departure that he was “sorry” he “failed” the Cardinals. He finished his Arizona tenure with a 38-48-1 record, 20,460 passing yards and 3,193 rushing yards. He should still have plenty of suitors in the NFL, with the Jets potentially being one of them.

But if he wants to take a different swing path, the A’s are open and willing.