3 biggest remaining threats to the Chicago Cubs this offseason

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Anxiety is running high for Chicago Cubs fans as the team still has yet to put pen to paper on a single major league free agent. It's not yet time to panic over Jed Hoyer and company's abilities to land impact players - Cody Bellinger, Rhys Hoskins, Shota Imanaga, Shane Bieber, and other options are still on the table. Crafting a successful offseason is far from impossible yet, though the paths are limited and the room for error is small.

The problem the Cubs face is that there are also a lot of hungry teams still out there who are just as eager to improve their rosters. After missing out on top options like Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, some are more motivated than ever to make a splash and ensure their offseasons are productive. The few teams that have added big are similarly scary as they look to continue pushing the chips in and take up more of the limited options available.

As we prepare to enter 2024, let's look at three of the most dangerous teams the Cubs will have to navigate around in order to make a team that's better than 2023.

#3: Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers have wasted no time crushing Cubs fans' dreams this offseason, pulling off a string of deals everyone only wishes the Northsiders could pull off. Even after landing Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and Tyler Glasnow on lengthy deals, Los Angeles appears to be far from done dealing. Reports have connected them to Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase and former Brewers superstar Josh Hader, two names who have also been linked to the Cubs.

Clase, 25, is locked up for two more years with two pricy club options on top of that. With an excellent career 2.00 ERA and nasty stuff, he'd be the perfect addition to the back end of the Cubs' bullpen, especially if paired in a larger package for either Shane Bieber or Josh Naylor. Hader, similarly, has been on the team's radar, though that move seems less likely considering the contract he will demand. Having the Dodgers kicking the tires on those two, along with other bullpen arms, likely decreases the chances the Northsiders wind up with an impact closer this year to pair with Adbert Alzolay.

It's always a tad terrifying to be fishing in the same waters as the Dodgers. This offseason especially has shown that Andrew Friedman and company will go to any measure to keep the team competitive for years to come. Fortunately, their involvement in the market shouldn't interfere with the Cubs too far beyond the bullpen. Still, they can never be counted out as a major threat to the team's plans considering what they've already accomplished.

#2: New York Yankees

Missing out on Yoshinobu Yamamoto more than likely put the New York Yankees on a collision course with the Cubs in free agency. The Bronx Bombers came fairly close to reeling in the Japanese ace, but now they'll be eager to add starting pitching elsewhere. Unlike the Mets, who were only really interested in spending big if it involved Yamamoto, reports indicate that the Yankees plan to continue pushing aggressively to improve the rotation.

One of the main players they've been strongly connected to has been a long-rumored target for the Cubs - Shota Imanaga. From the start of the offseason, Imanaga seemed like the perfect fit for Chicago. Though not as highly-coveted as Yamamoto, the 30-year-old lefty owns a career 2.96 ERA in Japan and a solid strikeout rate that makes him a quality middle-of-the-rotation addition. He'd fit in well on the North Side following Marcus Stroman's departure, but the Yankees would also need him to reinforce their corps behind Gerrit Cole.

Additionally, New York is also seen as a good fit for Jordan Montgomery, another target who initially seemed like a quick addition the Cubs could've picked up to open their offseason. The one saving grace is that their interest in Cody Bellinger has significantly waned after acquiring both Juan Soto and Alex Verdugo. Resigning him should be of the utmost importance for Hoyer and company this winter, though there's still one team left that poses a significant threat to that pursuit.

#1: Toronto Blue Jays

Easily the scariest team for the Cubs right now is still the Toronto Blue Jays. General Manager Ross Atkins is looking for a big move to keep the team in line with its rivals in Baltimore and New York which only seem to keep improving. Ohtani seemed bound for Canada at one point earlier this offseason, but, after that was revealed to be untrue, the pressure is on more than ever to get a superstar. Namely, Bellinger.

With no Ohtani, Soto, or Yamamoto coming to the North Side, Bellinger is the only remaining impact bat available that's realistic for the Cubs. His comeback player of the year campaign - .307/.356/.525, 26 home runs - was instrumental to the team reaching 83 wins and staying in the wild card race until the very end. As we've said time and again, he needs to be the top target for this team if they're serious about meaningfully improving. That naturally positions the Jays as their biggest threat considering they've been labeled the favorite for Bellinger's services earlier this offseason.

Even after re-signing Kevin Kiermaier, there's no reason to believe that Toronto isn't fully committed to a Bellinger pursuit. Bob Nightengale and other reporters were quick to note that the signing means little about their interest in landing the center fielder/first baseman, though it may signal a lack of confidence that they'll come out on top. They still figure to be the greatest threat that could thwart a reunion with Bellinger this offseason. Add to that their pursuit of starting pitching and reported interest in other potential Cubs targets like Hoskins, Justin Turner, and J.D. Martinez, and the Jays are poised to be a frequent competitor for free agents big and small.

With still so much competition out there in free agency and trades, the Cubs will have to learn to get a little uncomfortable and flex their financial might sooner or later to set themselves up well for next year. That's not to say they need to overpay like crazy to lock down their targets, but they can't afford to be reasonably outbid at this point on the players that could help them finally emerge from their rebuild. That's easier said than done, but like the chances of a good offseason, it's far from impossible yet for Hoyer to pull off.

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