Report: Kyler Murray wants $15 million from A’s to stick with baseball

If Kyler Murray is going to stick with baseball, he’s going to make the Oakland A’s pay.

Murray and the A’s are set to meet on Sunday to discuss his professional future. According to Mike Leslie of WFAA, Murray wants $15 million guaranteed from Oakland otherwise he will enter the NFL Draft.

According to a source close to the situation, Kyler Murray’s number is $15M. He wants big time money to stick with baseball, otherwise he will enter the NFL draft tomorrow. The A’s are doing everything they can, sending their top brass, led by Billy Beane, to meet with him. — Mike Leslie (@MikeLeslieWFAA) January 13, 2019

The A’s put themselves in this situation by selecting Murray No. 9 overall in the MLB Draft and then letting Murray play football in the fall for Oklahoma. Murray exceeded almost all expectations, putting up a brilliant season that culminated in him winning the Heisman Trophy and taking the Sooners to the College Football Playoff. He played so well that he’s a legitimate first-round NFL prospect and potentially in the mix to go first overall.

Murray has all kinds of leverage. The A’s would only recoup the bonus money they’ve paid to Murray if he does not join the team, but they wouldn’t get their pick back. They’d be in a bad spot. They should spend some of their revenue share money, pay the man and bring him into pro baseball.