Agent waffles a bit on Murray’s future
LAS VEGAS — Over the past two weeks, as questions about Kyler Murray’s potential NFL future came to the fore, his baseball agent, Scott Boras, was steadfast that the A’s top draft pick was committed to fulfilling his baseball commitment.
During his annual scrum with reporters at baseball’s winter meetings, however, Boras was less firm when The Chronicle asked if he remains convinced Murray — Oklahoma’s Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback — will not declare for the NFL draft.
“When you win the Heisman Trophy, you’re going to have a lot of information come to you and be looked at,” Boras said. “All I know is that Kyler has a tremendous opportunity to be a great baseball player and he knows that . ... He has every intention to be in spring training and advance that interest.”
Asked if there is any scenario in which Murray might play in the NFL and also play baseball, Boras replied, “Well, he’s under contract to the Oakland A’s. I think you should ask that question to (A’s executive) Billy Beane. I’m not sure he has any bars on his (baseball) helmet.”
General manager David Forst said, “It’s not something we’ve talked to Scott about. It’s certainly not something we’ve talked to Kyler about. We are still confident he will be playing baseball in February and beyond, and I saw Kyler said somewhere today that as of now, he’ll be playing baseball . ... Until we sit down together and talk about these things, it’s unfair to comment on it.”
Murray’s contract included a $4.66 million bonus that Murray would have to repay should he not play for the organization. Eckersley documentary: In a one-hour documentary Thursday, MLB Network chronicles Dennis Eckersley’s Hall of Fame career. Among other topics, the former A’s closer openly discusses the breakup of his first marriage — his wife left him for his teammate and best friend, Rick Manning — and details how his daughter, Mandee, videotaped Eckersley while he was drunk, prompting his trip to rehab. “Eck: A Story of Saving” will air at 5 p.m. and again at 8 p.m. Briefly: The A’s are talking to free-agent second baseman Ian Kinsler, according to sources, and they’ve been linked in trade rumors to Texas infielder Jurickson Profar, who can become a free agent in 2020; Texas is seeking prospects in return ... The A’s are likely to lose 2015 first-round pick Richie Martin in Thursday’s Rule-5 draft after leaving the shortstop unprotected. They also might lose converted pitcher Eric Marinez, who was clocked in the high 90s during instructional league.