Theo Epstein believes both the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees benefited from last July's trade that sent Alfonso Soriano to the Bronx.

The Cubs traded Soriano to the Yankees for minor league pitcher Corey Black while also agreeing to pay about $17.7 million of the estimated $24.5 million remaining on Soriano's contract, which expires after this season.

"It looks like a deal that worked out for both sides," Epstein said.

"He had a no-trade clause and the Yankees were a team he felt comfortable with. We were in talks for a while. They said no to all the players [we asked for], including Corey Black. And then eventually they said they would do Black."

The Cubs and Yankees will play a doubleheader on Wednesday after being rained out on Tuesday.