Joel Sherman

Joel Sherman

MLB

Soriano best of top 10 midseason trades

Obtaining Alfonso Soriano represented two future risks for the Yankees:

– In a season when they were unlikely to reach the postseason even with Soriano, they were giving up a future asset, Corey Black. Doesn’t sound like much. But to get Ichiro Suzuki last year, the Yankees dealt Danny Farquhar, who since becoming the Mariners’ closer in early August has 12 saves in 14 tries, a .177 batting average against and a

24-to-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 17 ²/₃ innings. Black was 4-0 with a 2.88 ERA in five starts with the Cubs’ Single-A affiliate.

– Even with the Cubs paying two-thirds of Soriano’s 2014 salary, the Yankees still owe $6 million as they try to get under the $189 million luxury-tax threshold next year.

Still, the Yankees’ trade for Soriano represents the best made by any team during this season. The Yankees’ wild-card chances would be zero without him.

The team’s right-handed power was miserable and particularly ineffective against lefties. Soriano’s 15 homers since his arrival are the most in the majors, and his seven homers off of southpaws are tied with the Angels’ Mark Trumbo for the major league lead.

Soriano’s defense has been better than anticipated. Unless there is strong regression — and Soriano will play at 38 next year — that $6 million for 2014 looks fine.

Thus, in a year when many teams were helped by in-season trades, Soriano ranks No. 1. Here is the rest of the top 10:

2. RICKY NOLASCO, Dodgers

By going 8-2 with a 2.63 ERA (despite a brutal 1 ¹/₃ innings and seven runs in his last start) since coming over from the Marlins, Nolasco has solidified what was a weakness behind the Dodgers’ front three of Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke and Hyun-Jin Ryu.

Also, after being a workhorse, league-average-type pitcher for several seasons in Miami, Nolasco has set himself up well in a free-agent class not deep in quality, prime-aged starters. The 30-year-old is from Southern California, and the Dodgers might just pay to keep him.

3. SCOTT FELDMAN, Orioles

The Cubs were determined to move early in trades when possible before the market got cluttered closer to July 31. The Orioles benefited, getting Feldman on July 1. He is 5-4 with a 3.49 ERA since the deal, joining Chris Tillman as Baltimore’s most effective starters. Like Nolasco, he has helped his free-agent cause.

4. MARLON BYRD, Pirates

He was no fluke. As a Met: .285 batting average/.330 on-base percentage/.518 slugging. As a Pirate, mainly hitting cleanup or fifth: .319/.356/.507. Another player — despite having just turned 36 with a PED suspension in his recent past — aiding his free agency.

John Buck, the other piece the Mets traded to Pittsburgh on Aug. 27, is a seldom-used backup to catcher Russell Martin.

5. JOSE IGLESIAS and JOSE VERAS, Tigers

Annually, Detroit is viewed as having among the weakest farm systems.

Yet, when the Tigers need a player they have: a) the prospects to get, say, Anibal Sanchez and b) the will to buck the trend of being overprotective of prospects.

Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski saw weakness in late-game relief and landed Veras (2.65 ERA with Detroit), and when Jhonny Peralta was lost to a Biogenesis-related suspension, the defensively elite Iglesias was grabbed from the Red Sox. In the three-way deal, Iglesias cost Avisail Garcia, who is hitting .300 for the White Sox.

But the Tigers remain among the most can-do organizations.

Jake PeavyGetty Images

6. JAKE PEAVY, Red Sox

Boston GM Ben Cherington’s terrific results extended from the offseason (Mike Carp, Stephen Drew, Jonny Gomes, Mike Napoli, Koji Uehara, Shane Victorino) to the July marketplace. With worry about whether Clay Buchholz would be healthy for the stretch run and playoffs, Boston used Iglesias in a three-way trade to grab Peavy from the White Sox.

Peavy (3-1, 3.66 ERA in eight Boston starts) assisted in stabilizing the rotation. And a fringe benefit of trading Iglesias was it allowed Boston to promote Xander Bogaerts and receive a window into a promising tomorrow. Plus, with Peavy, Buchholz, Jon Lester, John Lackey and Ryan Dempster, the Red Sox have a starting five for 2014 intact with Felix Doubront, Allen Webster and Brandon Workman as young depth.

7. IAN KENNEDY, Padres

For the small price of reliever Joe Thatcher, non-contending San Diego took a flyer on Kennedy, who went from nearly winning the NL Cy Young in 2011 to such bad pitching that Arizona was going to have to consider non-tendering him in the offseason. Back home in SoCal and in a better environment (Petco Park) for a fly-ball pitcher, Kennedy has revived (3-1, 3.86 ERA), and with Andrew Cashner and Tyson Ross offers a potentially promising rotation for the Padres in 2014.

8. EMILIO BONIFACIO and JUSTIN MAXWELL, Royals

Two small trades with big impacts for the surging Royals. Bonifacio, landed from Toronto in mid-August for a player to be named, has hit .302 batting second (moving Eric Hosmer to third and lengthening the lineup) and playing second base (which had been a Royals shortcoming).

Maxwell, obtained July 31 from Houston, has slumped recently. But initially he provided power the Royals badly lacked.

9. MARC RZEPCZYNSKI, Indians

For the second time in three years, his midseason acquisition is huge.

First, he helped the 2011 Cardinals win a title after being obtained from Blue Jays. He struggled thereafter, and St. Louis all but gave him away to Cleveland in late July. The southpaw reliever has held lefties to 3-for-30.

10. ALEX RIOS, Rangers

Texas arguably traded for the most coveted starter (Matt Garza) and hitter (Rios) available. Rios was a response to the dubious Rangers offense losing Nelson Cruz to a 50-game Biogenesis suspension. Rios has been Rios — good, but not special. Career OPS: .767. Rangers OPS: .787.

Conversely, Garza has turned out to be the booby prize of the trade market. He had quality starts (at least six innings, three or fewer earned runs) in his first two Texas outings and just one in his last nine, going 2-5 with a 5.72 ERA and contributing significantly to the Rangers going from a playoff lock to a team in huge trouble.