3 teams that remain the biggest threats to the Chicago Cubs this offseason

#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.