05-17-2019, 09:16 AM
into Major League Baseball in June by the Oakland Athletics Starlin Castro Jersey , who selected him as an outfielder with the No. 9 pick and promptly signed him to a $4.7 million bonus.Since then, the 21-year-old has kept himself busy by playing quarterback well enough for the Oklahoma Sooners to become the program's second consecutive Heisman Trophy winner. That begat a big decision of whether he should declare for the National Football League draft by Monday's deadline.Early in the afternoon, the man himself announced his decision on Twitter:Kyler Murray TheKylerMurrayI have declared for the NFL Draft.As MLB.com's Jane Lee noted, Murray's decision was merely a procedural move.He's still under contract with the A's. Things will get interesting in February, wherein the A's open spring training on the 15th and the NFL combine starts on the 26th. Because it's already been decided that Murray can't play both baseball and football, next month is when another decision will be in order.Though MLB.com's Jon Paul Morosi reported Murray would have to give back his signing bonus if he spurns the A's and MLB, doing exactly that and going all-out for an NFL career is about as no-brainery as no-brainers get.It's not that Murray's some slouch as a baseball player. He was a top-10 pick, after all, and he draws comparisons to some of the greatest talents in the sport's history."The big one is Rickey Henderson," said Murray himself in reference to the Hall of Famer and all-time steals leader, per Lee. "I've watched a lot of his film. Great player, great legend, obviously, but I'm pretty confident in my own skills."According to Joel Anderson and Jake Trotter of ESPN.com, one MLB executive went with a current superstar who's won two American League MVPs: "[Murray's] that type of freak athlete, where the fact that he had a stunted development and didn't play for a couple of years might not matter. That's like Mike Trout-type athletic."Sean M. Haffey/Getty ImagesPer MLB.com, Murray's hit, power, speed and fielding tools rate as average or better. Ironically, the one that doesn't make the grade is his arm. But as evidenced by Trout http://www.marlinsfanproshop.com/authentic-starlin-castro-jersey , one need not have a rocket arm to become a superstar center fielder as long as everything else checks out.But now for the catch: Murray's baseball talent is raw.He played baseball well enough in high school that he might have been a first-round pick in the 2015 draft had he not opted out of it to pursue a two-sport career at Texas AM. But after he transferred to Oklahoma later that year, he missed the 2016 baseball season. A year later, he played just 27 games with only 49 at-bats for the Sooners.Though Murray rescued his stock last spring by slashing .296/.398/.556 with 10 home runs and 10 steals in 51 games, his rawness manifested in a 25.1 percent strikeout rate. A player like this is more high-ceiling than high-floor. That means the A's couldn't skimp on minor league development time for Murray, which in turns means he'd probably be looking at a 2021 ETA for his major league debut.Murray would only be entitled to the major league minimum ($555,000) through 2023 or 2024. Only after that would he start earning bigger paydays via arbitration, but there would be three years of that before a (perhaps) bigger free-agent payday after 2026 or 2027. He'd be 30 years old in the latter season.Last week, ESPN's Adam Schefter (via NFL reporter Dov Kleiman) floated the possibility that Murray could go as high as No. 1 overall to the Arizona Cardinals in April's NFL draft
ov Kleiman NFL_DovKleiman#Cardinals might be open to Draft Kyler Murray 1st overall and trade away 2018, 10th overall pick QB Josh Rosen, per AdamSchefter N0JO8XUvYvIt's not just Schefter who has suggested Murray is worthy of the No. 1 pick. Former Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury gave Murray that much credit in October. This same Kingsbury is now the Cardinals' head coach.If he's not the No. 1 overall selection, the sense Bleacher Report's Matt Miller got from 10 NFL scouts and executives is that Murray is a "lock" for the first round. Based on the numbers he just put up?,361 yards and 42 touchdowns passing and 1,001 yards and 12 touchdowns rushing seems reasonable.At either end of the first round, Murray would be in line for better money than he got from the A's. To wit, Murray's former Oklahoma teammate Baker Mayfield collected a $21.9 million signing bonus and $32.7 million overall as the No. 1 pick by the Cleveland Browns last year. Even all the way down at No. 32, Lamar Jackson got a $5.0 million bonus and $9.5 million total from the Baltimore Ravens.Patrick Smith/Getty ImagesNeither of them had to wait long to start. Chances are Murray wouldn't have to either. And because it's easier than ever for quarterbacks to succeed in the NFL Clark of The Ringer has more on that could also quickly follow Mayfield's and Jackson's paths to early stardom.It would soon be time for Murray to get paid even more. If his rookie contract resembled Mayfield's and Jackson's years with a club option for a fifth would likely become a free agent after the 2023 season. If he hadn't signed a big deal before then, that would be his path to one.With football, there's the obvious concern of a serious injury ruining everything during or after Murray's career. But quarterback has always been a relatively safe position, and the NFL has been going to extremes to make it even safer.Murray is thus in the best position possible for a long career in the NFL, and he could earn far more than he ever could as an MLB outfielder. Here's JJ Cooper of Baseball America with a helpful breakdown:JJ Cooper jjcoop36Numbers for MLB OFs0 active MLB OFs have made $200m+3 active MLB OFs have made $150m+10 active MLB OFs have made $100m+23 active MLB OFs have made $50m+35 active MLB OFs have made $25m+56 active MLB OFs have made $10m+In the face of this Martin Prado Jersey , all the A's can do in the next few weeks is try to entice Murray with more money up front. To this end, WFAA's Mike Leslie reported Murray's magic number is $15 million.That isn't accurate, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. But in light of what he could earn via the NFL draft, $15 million might actually be a conservative estimate of what it would take for the A's to sway Murray. Mind you, any extra money the A's give him would have to come in the form of a major league contract and a spot on their 40-man roster.Even then, though, Murray's timeline wouldn't necessarily be accelerated.The only real stipulation (h/t Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times) is that he would have to be with the A's on a full-time basis by 2022, when he'd be in the last of four minor league option years. He'd still have to prove himself in the minors beforehand, and he'd still be six or seven years from free agency upon joining the A's.To boot, baseball free agency could disappoint Murray. Big bucks have become scarce enough on the last two free-agent markets to raise concerns about a possible work stoppage in the near future. Perhaps the crisis will be resolved when MLB and the MLB Players Association negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement to replace the one that expires in 2021. Then again, perhaps it won't.If Murray does end up choosing football, MLB will have some serious soul-searching to do about what it must change to have a shot at retaining similar exceptional talents in the future.The NFL, meanwhile, should be more than happy to have Murray if he goes through its door. Football is what he does best, so he could be worth as many pennies as the sport sends his way. Stats courtesy of D1Baseball.com and Sports Reference. Contract data courtesy of Spotrac. LOS ANGELES (AP) — Late September, a crucial series, and a postseason berth on the line. Yasiel Puig thrives in big-game situations, and once again he delivered.Puig didn’t start despite being on a tear at the plate. But he came off the bench to slug a tiebreaking, three-run homer in the seventh inning that sent the Los Angeles Dodgers past the Colorado Rockies 5-2 on Wednesday night to increase their NL West lead to 2½ games.“We’re going to win the West again,” Puig said. Walker Buehler struck out a career-high 12 and the Dodgers completed a three-game sweep of the second-place Rockies http://www.marlinsfanproshop.com/authentic-starlin-castro-jersey , giving the five-time defending NL West champions their largest division lead this season. They outscored Colorado 16-6 in the series, with homers proving to be the difference in each game.“It’s impressive,” manager Dave Roberts said of the sweep. “I believe our guys can sustain it.”The Rockies remained 1½ games behind St. Louis for the second NL wild card.“Like I’ve said all along, I think this is going to come down to the end,” manager Bud Black said. “I really do.”After falling into a 2-0 hole in a 36-pitch first inning, Buehler settled down and showed why he has become a dependable complement to Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw. The rookie right-hander allowed three hits and one walk over six innings, and neither run he gave up was earned.“I just slowed down a little bit,” Buehler said. “The later you get in the year the bigger it all feels.”Puig’s second career pinch-hit homer came off Scott Oberg (7-1) and ignited the crowd and his teammates, some of whom came out in front of the dugout to cheer. The always-excitable Puig raised both arms as he circled the bases.“I saw his first swing and I saw him hit the top half of the ball,” Oberg said. “I’m like, ‘OK, it’s probably a decent pitch to throw again.’ Sitting on it. Put a good swing on it. Over the fence. That’s it.”Puig is hitting .400 this month, with seven homers, nine runs and 14 RBIs. He hit five homers in two days recently.The Dodgers showed off their depth in the seventh. After pinch-hitter Joc Pederson fouled out, Max Muncy drew a pinch-hit walk. Yasmani Grandal doubled to deep right field, moving Muncy to third and setting up Puig.“This series was emblematic of our ballclub,” Roberts said. “How many people had their hands in to help us win three ballgames.”Caleb Ferguson (7-2) got two outs and Kenley Jansen closed for his 36th save.Buehler gave up a two-run single to Ian Desmond in the first after the pitcher made a run-saving throw to the plate when Gerardo Parra grounded into a fielder’s choice.Matt Kemp homered on the first pitch from Tyler Anderson in the second, giving the Dodgers seven players with 20 or more homers in a season for the first time in franchise history. That left them trailing 2-1. Brian Dozier’s RBI double tied the game 2-all in the fifth. Enrique Hernandez singled leading off and made a headfirst slide at the plate, with his feet barely eluding the tag of catcher Chris Iannetta.Anderson gave up two runs and three hits in six innings. He struck out four and walked two.The Dodgers went 12-7 against the Rockies this season and swept them twice. Colorado, which lost two of three at home to Los Angeles earlier this month Wei-Yin Chen Jersey , fell to 1-5 on its nine-game road trip.“You can see it as a tale of two teams right now with the Dodgers,” Iannetta said. “They’re getting hot over the last week and a half and we’ve been grinding a little bit the last week and a half. We’ve had moments, but we haven’t really had consistent production.”TRAINER’S ROOMRockies: SS Trevor Story is receiving treatment for right elbow inflammation in Arizona, and the team is encouraged that he could return soon. Story might participate in some baseball activities at the club’s spring training facility in Phoenix, where the Rockies are headed next to play the Diamondbacks.TROUBLE AT HOMEThings aren’t going as well for Puig at home. TMZ reported that the slugger’s home in the San Fernando Valley was broken into for the fourth time on Tuesday night when he was at the ballpark.“I (did) not sleep too much yesterday,” Puig said, without offering details about the incident.Previous break-ins occurred in March 2017, during Game 7 of last year’s World Series and then last month.DODGERS AT HOMEWith three home games left in the regular season, the Dodgers are 42-36, their worst record in LA since going 42-39 in 2011. Their latest win allowed them to clinch a 13th straight winning season at Chavez Ravine.BLACKMON’S STREAKCharlie Blackmon singled in the first, extending his hitting streak to 12 games, the longest active steak in the majors. He’s hitting .390 with nine runs, five doubles, four homers and eight RBIs since Sept. 8.UP NEXTRockies: Off on Thursday before sending RHP German Marquez (12-10, 3.96 ERA) to the mound against third-place Arizona.Dodgers: After an off day Thursday, LHP Rich Hill (9-5, 4.02) starts the opener of a three-game series against the last-place Padres.
ov Kleiman NFL_DovKleiman#Cardinals might be open to Draft Kyler Murray 1st overall and trade away 2018, 10th overall pick QB Josh Rosen, per AdamSchefter N0JO8XUvYvIt's not just Schefter who has suggested Murray is worthy of the No. 1 pick. Former Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury gave Murray that much credit in October. This same Kingsbury is now the Cardinals' head coach.If he's not the No. 1 overall selection, the sense Bleacher Report's Matt Miller got from 10 NFL scouts and executives is that Murray is a "lock" for the first round. Based on the numbers he just put up?,361 yards and 42 touchdowns passing and 1,001 yards and 12 touchdowns rushing seems reasonable.At either end of the first round, Murray would be in line for better money than he got from the A's. To wit, Murray's former Oklahoma teammate Baker Mayfield collected a $21.9 million signing bonus and $32.7 million overall as the No. 1 pick by the Cleveland Browns last year. Even all the way down at No. 32, Lamar Jackson got a $5.0 million bonus and $9.5 million total from the Baltimore Ravens.Patrick Smith/Getty ImagesNeither of them had to wait long to start. Chances are Murray wouldn't have to either. And because it's easier than ever for quarterbacks to succeed in the NFL Clark of The Ringer has more on that could also quickly follow Mayfield's and Jackson's paths to early stardom.It would soon be time for Murray to get paid even more. If his rookie contract resembled Mayfield's and Jackson's years with a club option for a fifth would likely become a free agent after the 2023 season. If he hadn't signed a big deal before then, that would be his path to one.With football, there's the obvious concern of a serious injury ruining everything during or after Murray's career. But quarterback has always been a relatively safe position, and the NFL has been going to extremes to make it even safer.Murray is thus in the best position possible for a long career in the NFL, and he could earn far more than he ever could as an MLB outfielder. Here's JJ Cooper of Baseball America with a helpful breakdown:JJ Cooper jjcoop36Numbers for MLB OFs0 active MLB OFs have made $200m+3 active MLB OFs have made $150m+10 active MLB OFs have made $100m+23 active MLB OFs have made $50m+35 active MLB OFs have made $25m+56 active MLB OFs have made $10m+In the face of this Martin Prado Jersey , all the A's can do in the next few weeks is try to entice Murray with more money up front. To this end, WFAA's Mike Leslie reported Murray's magic number is $15 million.That isn't accurate, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle. But in light of what he could earn via the NFL draft, $15 million might actually be a conservative estimate of what it would take for the A's to sway Murray. Mind you, any extra money the A's give him would have to come in the form of a major league contract and a spot on their 40-man roster.Even then, though, Murray's timeline wouldn't necessarily be accelerated.The only real stipulation (h/t Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times) is that he would have to be with the A's on a full-time basis by 2022, when he'd be in the last of four minor league option years. He'd still have to prove himself in the minors beforehand, and he'd still be six or seven years from free agency upon joining the A's.To boot, baseball free agency could disappoint Murray. Big bucks have become scarce enough on the last two free-agent markets to raise concerns about a possible work stoppage in the near future. Perhaps the crisis will be resolved when MLB and the MLB Players Association negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement to replace the one that expires in 2021. Then again, perhaps it won't.If Murray does end up choosing football, MLB will have some serious soul-searching to do about what it must change to have a shot at retaining similar exceptional talents in the future.The NFL, meanwhile, should be more than happy to have Murray if he goes through its door. Football is what he does best, so he could be worth as many pennies as the sport sends his way. Stats courtesy of D1Baseball.com and Sports Reference. Contract data courtesy of Spotrac. LOS ANGELES (AP) — Late September, a crucial series, and a postseason berth on the line. Yasiel Puig thrives in big-game situations, and once again he delivered.Puig didn’t start despite being on a tear at the plate. But he came off the bench to slug a tiebreaking, three-run homer in the seventh inning that sent the Los Angeles Dodgers past the Colorado Rockies 5-2 on Wednesday night to increase their NL West lead to 2½ games.“We’re going to win the West again,” Puig said. Walker Buehler struck out a career-high 12 and the Dodgers completed a three-game sweep of the second-place Rockies http://www.marlinsfanproshop.com/authentic-starlin-castro-jersey , giving the five-time defending NL West champions their largest division lead this season. They outscored Colorado 16-6 in the series, with homers proving to be the difference in each game.“It’s impressive,” manager Dave Roberts said of the sweep. “I believe our guys can sustain it.”The Rockies remained 1½ games behind St. Louis for the second NL wild card.“Like I’ve said all along, I think this is going to come down to the end,” manager Bud Black said. “I really do.”After falling into a 2-0 hole in a 36-pitch first inning, Buehler settled down and showed why he has become a dependable complement to Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw. The rookie right-hander allowed three hits and one walk over six innings, and neither run he gave up was earned.“I just slowed down a little bit,” Buehler said. “The later you get in the year the bigger it all feels.”Puig’s second career pinch-hit homer came off Scott Oberg (7-1) and ignited the crowd and his teammates, some of whom came out in front of the dugout to cheer. The always-excitable Puig raised both arms as he circled the bases.“I saw his first swing and I saw him hit the top half of the ball,” Oberg said. “I’m like, ‘OK, it’s probably a decent pitch to throw again.’ Sitting on it. Put a good swing on it. Over the fence. That’s it.”Puig is hitting .400 this month, with seven homers, nine runs and 14 RBIs. He hit five homers in two days recently.The Dodgers showed off their depth in the seventh. After pinch-hitter Joc Pederson fouled out, Max Muncy drew a pinch-hit walk. Yasmani Grandal doubled to deep right field, moving Muncy to third and setting up Puig.“This series was emblematic of our ballclub,” Roberts said. “How many people had their hands in to help us win three ballgames.”Caleb Ferguson (7-2) got two outs and Kenley Jansen closed for his 36th save.Buehler gave up a two-run single to Ian Desmond in the first after the pitcher made a run-saving throw to the plate when Gerardo Parra grounded into a fielder’s choice.Matt Kemp homered on the first pitch from Tyler Anderson in the second, giving the Dodgers seven players with 20 or more homers in a season for the first time in franchise history. That left them trailing 2-1. Brian Dozier’s RBI double tied the game 2-all in the fifth. Enrique Hernandez singled leading off and made a headfirst slide at the plate, with his feet barely eluding the tag of catcher Chris Iannetta.Anderson gave up two runs and three hits in six innings. He struck out four and walked two.The Dodgers went 12-7 against the Rockies this season and swept them twice. Colorado, which lost two of three at home to Los Angeles earlier this month Wei-Yin Chen Jersey , fell to 1-5 on its nine-game road trip.“You can see it as a tale of two teams right now with the Dodgers,” Iannetta said. “They’re getting hot over the last week and a half and we’ve been grinding a little bit the last week and a half. We’ve had moments, but we haven’t really had consistent production.”TRAINER’S ROOMRockies: SS Trevor Story is receiving treatment for right elbow inflammation in Arizona, and the team is encouraged that he could return soon. Story might participate in some baseball activities at the club’s spring training facility in Phoenix, where the Rockies are headed next to play the Diamondbacks.TROUBLE AT HOMEThings aren’t going as well for Puig at home. TMZ reported that the slugger’s home in the San Fernando Valley was broken into for the fourth time on Tuesday night when he was at the ballpark.“I (did) not sleep too much yesterday,” Puig said, without offering details about the incident.Previous break-ins occurred in March 2017, during Game 7 of last year’s World Series and then last month.DODGERS AT HOMEWith three home games left in the regular season, the Dodgers are 42-36, their worst record in LA since going 42-39 in 2011. Their latest win allowed them to clinch a 13th straight winning season at Chavez Ravine.BLACKMON’S STREAKCharlie Blackmon singled in the first, extending his hitting streak to 12 games, the longest active steak in the majors. He’s hitting .390 with nine runs, five doubles, four homers and eight RBIs since Sept. 8.UP NEXTRockies: Off on Thursday before sending RHP German Marquez (12-10, 3.96 ERA) to the mound against third-place Arizona.Dodgers: After an off day Thursday, LHP Rich Hill (9-5, 4.02) starts the opener of a three-game series against the last-place Padres.