Tarik Skubal will hear from the Blue Jays this winter. According to The Athletic's Mitch Bannon, that's probably as far as it goes.

Bannon said in a Reddit AMA that Toronto will "be involved" and "connected" to the ace. Asked whether that turns into a signing, he answered: "Probably not."

He described a front office that leaves no stone unturned, "especially not a stone as shiny as Tarik Skubal."

Shiny is right. Since landing with the Dodgers from the Tigers, Skubal went 5-2 with a 2.61 ERA in 10 starts.

He also opened the NLDS against the Braves on Oct. 3, allowing one run over six innings in a 5-3 Dodgers win.

Toronto has every reason to shop for an ace after a 79-83 finish. The club has about $195 million committed for next season.

Myles Straw's $8 million club option is a tough call

Bannon also weighed in on smaller decisions. He wouldn't be surprised if the Jays tender contracts to all eight arbitration-eligible players.

The toughest calls involve Bowden Francis and Davis Schneider. Francis missed all of 2026 after Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, and his 2025 ended with a 6.05 ERA.

Schneider still has a minor-league option and was sent to Triple-A Buffalo in August. Bannon questioned whether the 27-year-old has a spot on the 2027 roster.

The outfielder's option is the most intriguing case. Bannon called him "maybe the best clubhouse guy on the team."

The production dipped, though. He went from 1.8 fWAR in 2025 to 0.7 in 2026.

Bannon's real question is roster space. Nathan Lukes, Brett Bateman, Addison Barger, Anthony Santander and a possible big addition already crowd the outfield.

Decline it. Paying a fifth outfielder that kind of money is a luxury a last-place team can't justify, no matter how good the clubhouse vibes are.

It's paying for premium cable to watch one channel on Sundays. Nice to have, hard to defend when the budget gets tight.

Is Toronto comfortable with Bateman holding down center if Straw goes? That's the gamble, and if Skubal slips away, every dollar saved had better land on someone who changes games.