Although much of the talk about the recent rebuilding that the Chicago Cubs underwent in recent years referred to the Cubs' impending success in the near future, it appears that the future has already arrived.

As play begins on July 24, the Cubs find themselves in third place in the National League Central division, nine games behind the division-leading St. Louis Cardinals. However, the Cubs have a winning record of 51-43 and currently hold the second N.L. Wild Card spot by 1/2 game over the San Francisco Giants. In addition, the Cubs trail the Pittsburgh Pirates by only three games for the first N.L. Wild Card position.

The Cubs are going for it this year rather than waiting until the experts have said they are supposed to start winning. CBS Chicago's Bruce Levine reports that the Cubs are among the front runners for Detroit Tigers ace David Price via trade.

Levine says that Cubs team president Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer have inquired about Price, who would give the Cubs an automatic ace in the front of the rotation. In fact, the Cubs' front office is "among the first to inquire about Price." The Tigers find themselves well outside of the A.L. Central division race for the first time in 10 years, and although they are only three games out of the second A.L. Wild Card spot, their inconsistency is making it even tougher for them to maintain pace in that race. 

Levine also says, "Both the Cubs and Tigers are scouting each other’s systems in the event a swap can be agreed to."

The Tigers are struggling but not because of Price. In 19 starts before Thursday's outing, he is 9-3 with a 2.32 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 3.4 WAR. He averages seven innings per start, and he can go the distance when needed. He is a five-time A.L. All-Star and the 2012 American League Cy Young award winner when he was 20-5 with a 2.56 ERA, 1.10 WHIP, and 6.9 WAR.

Levine reiterated Epstein's desire to win as soon as possible and that Epstein would do whatever it takes to give the Cubs the best chance. Levine writes,

"For now, the allure of a rotation led by Jon Lester, Jake Arrieta, and Price would scream World Series contender for the championship-starved Chicago franchise. Just two weeks ago, Epstein confessed that an organization should never take a chance to get into the playoffs for granted."

If the Cubs could acquire Price, the southpaw would join an already formidable rotation that includes Lester, Arrieta, Jason Hammel, and Kyle Hendricks. Lester struggled at first, but he is starting to pitch like the $155-million man that signed a six-year contract last offseason. Arrieta has blossomed into a legitimate Cy Young contender, and both Hammel and Hendricks have proven their worth to the Cubs.

Assuming the Cubs win a wild card berth, Price could become that #1 man who could win the do-or-die one-game playoff with the Pirates, Giants, or New York Mets -- the most likely contenders. If Price was to become unavailable for that game, then any of the Cubs' starters are capable of handling that assignment. Price, should the CUbs win that game, could then slide into the back end of the rotation in the NLDS's crucial deciding games.

Should the Cubs somehow win the division (unlikely but still possible), then Price could become the #1 man with Lester, Arrieta, and Hammel behind him in a postseason series. 

On July 21, USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported that the Tigers will certainly shop Price, who will become a high-priced free agent after the season ends. On Thursday, YES Network's Michael Kay predicted that Price "might be the next big pitcher that's traded" should the Tigers decide to become sellers. The Oakland Athletics traded Scott Kazmir to the Houston Astros earlier in the day. All contending teams would or should certainly express interest in Price, but he would become a rental player on many of those teams. 

However, in Chicago, Price could become much more. The Cubs have the money available, prospects to spare, and the desire to win now -- and keep winning for years to come. In addition, they have one of the best managers in the game in Joe Maddon, who was Price's manager with the Tampa Bay Rays from 2008 to mid-2014. The Rays reached the 2008 World Series in Price's debut season, and they have contended every year since. 

Levine says that Price will likely seek a deal very similar to what Lester signed this past offseason. Price might ask for five or six years at $25 million per year. A deal between the Cubs and Tigers looks very possible, and the Cubs could certainly benefit from it now and possibly for the next several years.