A’s ‘Always Open’ to Kyler Murray Reunion After Cardinals Release

MESA, Ariz. — Kyler Murray, 28, signaled a farewell to Arizona on March 3, 2026, after the Cardinals announced they will release him when the NFL’s new league year opens on March 11. The former No. 1 overall NFL pick spent seven seasons with Arizona after choosing football over baseball in 2019. That decision followed his selection by the Oakland A’s at No. 9 in the 2018 MLB Draft and a $4.66 million signing bonus; the A’s retained his baseball rights when he left for the NFL. With Murray now set to become an NFL free agent, the A’s general manager says the club remains prepared to discuss a late-career return to baseball if Murray chooses that path.

Key Takeaways

• Kyler Murray is being released by the Arizona Cardinals after seven seasons; the NFL’s new league year begins March 11, 2026.
• Murray signed with the Oakland A’s as the No. 9 pick of the 2018 MLB Draft and received a $4.66 million signing bonus; the A’s kept his baseball rights when he left for the NFL.
• In college at Oklahoma in 2018, Murray hit .296 with 10 home runs and 47 RBIs across 51 games, and was widely viewed as a five-tool outfield prospect.
• A’s GM David Forst told MLB.com the organization is “always open” to Murray exploring a baseball return, while acknowledging Murray’s standing as an NFL-caliber quarterback.
• Most industry observers see an NFL continuation as the more likely outcome given Murray’s draft pedigree and recent experience, but the A’s retain an exclusive path back to their organization if he opts for baseball.
• If Murray sought to return to baseball, he would need to resume baseball activities and likely face a development timetable before major-league play, given seven years away from pro pitching.

Background

Kyler Murray was a rare two-sport star at the University of Oklahoma, winning the 2018 Heisman Trophy for his college football performance while also producing strong numbers on the diamond. The Oakland A’s selected Murray with the ninth overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft and signed him to a $4.66 million contract, a figure that reflected his high ceiling as a five-tool player. In February 2019, Murray publicly declared for the NFL Draft and ultimately was chosen first overall by the Arizona Cardinals in April 2019, signaling a professional pivot away from baseball.

When Murray left for football, Major League Baseball rules placed him on the restricted list, and he forfeited the majority of his original signing bonus at that time. The A’s, however, retained his baseball rights—an administrative mechanism that preserves an MLB club’s first claim on a player who departs for another sport. Oakland figures to remain a logical landing spot if Murray ever elects to return to professional baseball, both because of those retained rights and because the organization engaged him in earnest before his choice to pursue the NFL.

Main Event

On March 3, 2026, news circulated that the Cardinals will release Murray when the league year turns over on March 11; the quarterback marked the moment by posting a public message to Arizona fans thanking them for their support. The move formally places Murray in free agency, allowing other NFL clubs to negotiate with him once the new league year begins. The A’s promptly reiterated that their door remains open, an acknowledgement that his baseball rights still sit with the organization should Murray choose to resume a career on the diamond.

David Forst, the A’s general manager, told MLB.com the club recognizes Murray’s status as an “elite NFL quarterback” while also confirming the team’s longstanding interest in a baseball reunion. Internally, the A’s maintained contact with Murray’s representatives during his 2019 decision-making process and continued to regard him as a notable former prospect. Any serious consideration of a return would involve discussions about physical readiness, roster fit and a development plan—especially given the time Murray has spent away from professional pitching and daily baseball routines.

From the NFL perspective, Murray’s profile—first overall pick, seven seasons with the Cardinals—will attract attention from teams in need of quarterbacking depth. League teams will weigh his recent injury history, competitive form and fit in their offensive schemes before making offers. For baseball, the challenges are different: converting to an everyday or depth outfield role after years away would likely require a structured minor-league assignment and monitoring of hitting against pro arms.

Analysis & Implications

Strategically, Oakland’s public stance is low-cost and prudent; reaffirming interest preserves a relationship and keeps options open without committing resources. The A’s have a contractual and historical rationale for doing so: they invested a first-round selection and a $4.66 million signing bonus in 2018, and MLB rules left the door open by keeping Murray on the restricted list. Forst’s comments function both as a courtesy to a former draftee and as a clear signal to Murray’s camp that the A’s remain a candidate organization.

For Murray, the calculus involves sport-specific risks and rewards. In the NFL he can expect immediate opportunities and significant compensation tied to quarterback market value; in baseball, he would trade short-term earnings for a longer, uncertain path back to the majors. Any switch would also carry physical considerations: returning to face professional pitching after a multi-year absence poses timing and durability questions that teams and scouts would test carefully before advancing him beyond instructional or lower minor-league levels.

Institutionally, Murray’s situation highlights how modern teams can hold cross-sport options open and how player mobility between leagues complicates talent-management models. If a high-profile athlete like Murray pursued baseball again, it would spur debates about developmental timelines, contract structures for two-sport prospects, and whether MLB clubs should adopt different incentives to retain multi-sport athletes. At a broader level, the episode underscores how draft decisions in one sport continue to have contractual and public-relations echoes across other leagues.

Comparison & Data

The table above summarizes the most directly comparable data points that determine how viable a baseball return might be: collegiate performance, the size of the initial baseball investment, NFL draft position, and the length of his professional football tenure. Those figures explain both Oakland’s retained interest and the practical hurdles Murray would face in shifting sports again.

Reactions & Quotes

Oakland’s front office framed its position as an open invitation rather than an active recruitment campaign, balancing respect for Murray’s NFL accomplishments with a reminder of their historical connection. The comment signals availability without pressuring a decision, and it leaves room for a negotiated return if both sides wanted to pursue it.

“Kyler is an elite NFL quarterback and I’m sure there are plenty of opportunities for him to continue his football career,”

David Forst, A’s General Manager (to MLB.com)

Murray’s own public message to Arizona supporters on March 3 conveyed gratitude and disappointment in equal measure as he acknowledged the end of his time with the Cardinals. The tweet was framed to thank fans and reflect on his ambitions while leaving his immediate professional plans undefined.

“To everyone that supported me and showed kindness to my family and I during my time in AZ, from the bottom of my heart, thank you,”

Kyler Murray (public social post, March 3, 2026)

Industry analysts offered measured takes: some emphasize probable NFL interest given Murray’s pedigree, others note the novelty and public intrigue a cross-sport return would create for baseball. Clubs, executives and agents are likely to watch for formal medical reports and any statements from Murray’s representatives before speculating further.

Unconfirmed

• There is no public report confirming that Murray plans to pursue baseball immediately; any such move remains speculative until his representatives comment.
• Specific offers from other NFL teams to Murray have not been disclosed publicly; reports of interest are based on league patterns and precedent, not on announced deals.
• The A’s have not outlined a concrete roster or development plan for Murray should he choose to return; Forst’s comments indicate openness but not a formal proposal.

Bottom Line

The Oakland A’s stance is straightforward: they retained Kyler Murray’s baseball rights and are publicly willing to revisit a reunion if Murray ever decides to pursue professional baseball. That position preserves institutional memory and options for both parties, while recognizing the practical reality that Murray’s immediate market is likely in the NFL given his draft status and recent experience.

For fans and roster planners, the most realistic near-term outcome remains an NFL continuation for Murray, but the A’s message ensures that a baseball path is not closed. Monitoring Murray’s public statements, medical updates and agent activity over the coming weeks will clarify whether the public narrative becomes a genuine cross-sport negotiation or remains an archival footnote to a rare two-sport athlete’s career.

Sources

• MLB.com — reporting and quotes from A’s GM and coverage of Murray’s release (sports media)