Any team that makes the playoffs can be considered a contender, so it becomes more about the likelihood of making the playoffs. The problem is they are still partially buried in the hole they dug themselves in the first half of the season, with multiple teams in front of them in both the division and Wild Card races. That means whatever the Cubs add needs to either (1) provide value beyond 2023, or (2) make it more likely than not they will make up enough ground to secure a playoff spot this year. Ideally though, you would try to do both.