Justin Morneau To the Toronto Blue Jays Has Good and Bad Written All Over It

This has potential written all over it. And, disaster. Tragedy. Broken promises.

The Toronto Blue Jays are apparently interested in Minnesota Twins first baseman Justin Morneau (The Score), and why wouldn’t they be? Canadian, a one-time AL MVP, and one of the best mashers in the game… when healthy.

And, yes, there’s the pitfall. When is the new but isn’t it? At least, in sports, perhaps. They should starting saying, “I sense there’s a when coming.” Because, with Morneau, when healthy is the whole thing. Just like it was when he wants to with new Dodger Hanley Ramirez.

Morneau is Canadian, but let’s try and eat that with a grain of salt and a big ol’ lime. If Morneau was American, would the Blue Jays really be interested in him? Would they be interested in an aging, former all-star with injury problems and a receding hairline? Morneau’s post-concussion syndrome has knocked him down but not out since he suffered the head-bonk against Toronto (against Toronto!) in 2010. Those Canadians… they can leave hockey but they can’t escape concussions.

Would the Jays have been into Corey Koskie if he wasn’t Canadian? Like Morneau, Koskie wasn’t form Toronto, but his birthplace being on that side of the border was enough to convince Toronto that he was worth it. (Koskie was from Winnipeg and played for the Twins, Morneau is from New Westminster, B.C. and plays for the Twins.) C-Kosk lasted a little over a year in Toronto after signing a three-year deal for over $17 million in 2004. Again, injuries got the better of him.

It always seems rosy at the start, but it’s the end that counts, especially when the end comes that quick.

Look at the Steve Nash situation. That was old school, self-destructive Toronto that wanted Nash, not the newer, calmer Toronto that Alex Anthopolous is running. Old school, self-destructive Toronto wanted the publicity and the homegrown attitude. Old school, self-destructive Toronto wants the endless Sportsnet ads and the jersey sales.

Newer, calmer (better) Toronto understands the game, and understands the cycle. Newer, calmer Toronto knows that the Raptors got a younger point guard in Kyle Lowry, a guy they can build around or trade for better pieces. Newer, calmer Toronto would have seen that Corey Koskie’s best years are behind him. Newer, calmer Toronto won’t panic and shell out too much for Ryan Dempster, another Canadian kid who’s having a sensational year on the mound but likely won’t redo it in 2013.

Newer, calmer Toronto would be cautious of Justin Morneau’s ability and projection.

But, junkies are junkies. No matter how much they try and change, that temptation is always there. We’ll have to wait and see what the Jays do with this one.