Tarik Skubal's workouts with Bowden Francis have added a little intrigue to the Blue Jays' offseason. Photos of the pair training together in Arizona surfaced last week.

The timing is notable. GM meetings are underway in Las Vegas this week, and Skubal is the top free agent on the market.

The ties don't stop with Francis. He spent his springs with the Tigers in Florida, and the Jays let him lift at their Dunedin facility after a Grapefruit League start this March.

He even met Max Scherzer for the first time that day and talked pitching. Both are represented by Scott Boras, who also represents Dylan Cease and Kazuma Okamoto.

Toronto can afford to be in the conversation. Mark Shapiro said he doesn't “anticipate there being any major fundamental change” to payroll.

So does a workout buddy mean anything? Not much.

Scott Boras' lockout leverage could price Toronto out of Skubal

Sportsnet noted that Skubal won't make a decision of this magnitude because he lifted weights in Toronto's gym or likes hanging out with Francis.

History matters more. Before the last lockout, Boras used the CBA deadline to land mega-deals for Corey Seager and Marcus Semien.

The Jays have chased big names before, making serious offers to Shohei Ohtani, Kyle Tucker and Cease. They also met with Tucker and Framber Valdez last winter without signing either.

Many believe the Mets are the most likely team to outbid the field for Skubal.

A friendship with Francis is a nice story, not a strategy. Toronto should stay engaged, but the money belongs in bats, and Ross Atkins can't let a few Instagram photos change that.

It's like running into your crush at the gym. Nice to say hello, but it doesn't mean you're going to prom together.

Boras' other clients matter, too. Randy Arozarena and Kaima Taira are both potential Jays targets, and those talks will happen in the same meetings.

Expect reports that Toronto is “motivated” on Skubal. The real question is whether that means a serious bid or just keeping the door open in case the Mets and Dodgers fall through.