Toronto Blue Jays have interesting connection to MLB's top free agent

With MLB free agency now underway, the Toronto Blue Jays are expected to be among the most active teams on the market once again.

Toronto has more than $80 million coming off the books this offseason, which will certainly be helpful in the potential pursuit of the biggest prize of this year's free agent class, two-time Cy Young Award-winning pitcher Tarik Skubal.

The Blue Jays front office has never been afraid to pursue the biggest names on the market, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see them in the Skubal sweepstakes, especially considering the team may already have a connection to the star pitcher through one of its own players.

The 29-year-old southpaw happens to be training partners with Blue Jays pitcher Bowden Francis.

The two have been working out together this offseason at the Apex Performance Facility in Arizona. The training facility has shared photos of them on social media playing catch and helping spot one another during gym sessions.

Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Bowden Francis and top free-agent Tarik Skubal have been training together in Arizona this offseason. (@apexperformancefacility/Instagram)

Obviously, the contract Skubal signs this offseason will likely come down to dollars and cents, not who he's friends with around the league. But if he's torn between Toronto and another potential destination, having an existing relationship with Francis doesn't hurt.

Francis hasn't pitched for the Blue Jays since June 2025, and underwent Tommy John surgery last offseason. If his recovery goes according to plan, the 30-year-old could return to the mound in 2027.

In his last full season with Toronto in 2024, Francis went 8-5 with a 3.30 ERA and 103.2 innings pitched across 13 starts.

Skubal, meanwhile, has arguably been the best pitcher in baseball over the past three seasons. Since returning from flexor tendon surgery in 2023, he has posted a 50-20 record with a 2.47 ERA and 757 strikeouts across 103 starts.

Landing him would give Toronto a loaded starting rotation, and possibly, on paper, the best in baseball.

Imagine this: Skubal, Dylan Cease, José Soriano, Trey Yesavage and Cody Ponce. A Blue Jays fan can dream, right?