The Blue Jays are set to meet with Tarik Skubal, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman. Toronto's interest in the top free agent is real.

Skubal is the biggest prize on the market. He owns two Cy Young Awards, and his ERA has started with a two in each of the past four seasons.

The Tigers traded him to the Dodgers at the deadline. Los Angeles was then swept by the Brewers in the NLCS.

There are already a few Toronto connections. He's been training with Bowden Francis in Arizona, and he worked out at the Jays' Dunedin facility after a Grapefruit League start in March.

Mark Shapiro has also said he doesn't expect “any major fundamental change” to payroll.

But how much does a meeting really mean? Less than fans might hope.

A Tarik Skubal meeting doesn't guarantee a Blue Jays bid

Toronto met in person with Kyle Tucker and Framber Valdez last winter. It didn't sign either one.

Sportsnet noted that a meeting signals some mutual interest, but only so much. The real test is whether the Jays make an offer, and how big.

Scott Boras represents Skubal, and he's used lockout deadlines before to land mega-deals for Corey Seager and Marcus Semien.

Many around the league believe the Mets are most likely to outbid the field.

Meet with him, listen and walk away if the price gets silly. Toronto finished last in runs, and the money still belongs in bats like Seiya Suzuki before another ace.

A free-agent meeting is like a first date. It's a good sign when both sides show up, but nobody's picking out rings yet.

MLB.com's Keegan Matheson said the Jays “belong in the conversation for every top-end free agent.” Now they've officially entered this one.

The meeting will make headlines, and it should. But until Ross Atkins puts a real number on the table, Skubal's future runs through New York or Los Angeles, not Toronto.