For $10.85 Million Over 2 Years, Morris Will Call Toronto Home : Baseball: He leaves Minneapolis because the Twins can’t ante up.

Less than two months after pitching his hometown Minnesota Twins to a World Series victory over the Atlanta Braves and calling it a dream come true, Jack Morris proved Wednesday he can dream anywhere if the price is right.

Joining his third team in three years, the 36-year-old right-hander agreed to a two-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays for $10.85 million.

If the Blue Jays pick up the option on a third year, the total would be $14.85 million for an average annual value of $4.95 million, placing Morris fourth on the financial ladder behind Bobby Bonilla ($5.8 million), Roger Clemens ($5.38) and Dwight Gooden ($5.15).

Minnesota General Manager Andy MacPhail, reached by phone, said he offered Morris a two-year guarantee of $8 million and a three-year plan totalling a minimum of $11 million, with the possibility of $13 million.

Attorney Richard Moss said it was Morris’ desire to remain in Minnesota but the Twins offer did not reflect his accomplishments and market value.

“Jack knows there will be a negative reaction, and he may be portrayed as a mercenary who goes from team to team each year helping win a championship,” Moss said, “but he is not a mercenary, and he has more loyalty than his teams.

“He wanted to stay with Detroit a year ago but was given a hard time, and he wanted to stay with Minnesota but was again a victim of the industry’s issue of the day.”

Twice confronted by collusion, Morris was victimized this time, Moss said, by the attempt to put the players in the middle of the big market-small market issue.

“This has nothing to do with the players, but the Twins will say that they have to sign Kirby Puckett a year from now and as a small-market team they can’t afford both,” Moss said.

Indeed, MacPhail said just that, and added he is comfortable with the Twins’ position and has no animosity toward Morris.

“This doesn’t have to be a moral issue of loyalty,” he said. “It’s the nature of the game. If clubs such as Toronto and Boston are so inclined, they can blow us out every time.

“We can only do the best we can, and so far we’ve been just as effective going about it our way. But ultimately there has to be a change, or we’ll be reduced to playing studio baseball or going belly up.”

Morris had a memorable year for the Twins, working 246 2/3 innings and compiling an 18-12 record. He beat Toronto twice in the playoffs and was selected most valuable player of the Series, beating Atlanta twice, including 1-0 in Game 7.

He made $3.6 million in salary and bonuses and became a free agent when he passed on a ’92 option at $3.65 million.

Having signed Morris, the Blue Jays withdrew their offer to Frank Viola, and several agents and officials said the left-hander was nearing an agreement with the Boston Red Sox.

Dan Grigsby, who represents free-agent shortstop Dick Schofield, said Senior Vice President Dan O’Brien told him the Angels withdrew their three-year, $6-million offer without telling him.

“The whole thing is bizarre,” Grigsby said.

Angel President Richard Brown confirmed the offer “is off the table now,” and said he’s waiting to see if Schofield accepts arbitration. “He could be back, and that’s what we want,” Brown said.

The Angels have been in contact with Dennis Gilbert, who represents free-agent outfielder Danny Tartabull, but Brown said he wasn’t inclined to give Tartabull a five-year contract.

Brown will meet next week with Marvin Demoff, who represents free-agent pitcher Kirk McCaskill. The Angels have offered McCaskill a two-year contract with a one-year option but are flexible.

McCaskill was to meet with Boston Red Sox officials today in Boston. He has also attracted interest from the Chicago White Sox.

Baseball Notes

Another top free agent came to terms when relief pitcher Mitch Williams, 12-5 with 30 saves, rejoined the Philadelphia Phillies for three years at $9.2 million.

Times staff writer Helene Elliott contributed to this story.