MLS is a league filled with parity. Everyone remotely interested in the league knows this, but every year it becomes more obvious even for the biggest fans. Any team can win in any given year thanks to some sneaky, under-the-radar offseason moves.
Were there any lower-tier clubs that improved significantly enough to contend for a championship? We won't know for months, but we can always speculate: the Chicago Fire may be that team.
Chicago, already built on young talent, had arguably the best offseason in MLS. They pulled off the sneakiest SuperDraft of anyone, acquired league veterans like Nick LaBrocca and Michael Harrington, and added two center-backs in their prime.