MLB teams
Jesse Rogers, ESPN Staff Writer 10y

James Russell, Emilio Bonifacio dealt

MLB, Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves

CHICAGO -- The Cubs have traded left-hander James Russell and infielder/outfielder Emilio Bonifacio along with cash considerations to the Atlanta Braves for Class A catcher Victor Caratini, the team announced Thursday.

Russell, 28, was 0-2 with a 3.51 ERA in 44 games this season after appearing in 151 games for the Cubs in 2012-13. He was seen saying goodbye to teammates and fans as he walked from the bullpen to the dugout in the seventh inning of the Cubs game against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday.

"It's kind of hard to wrap your head around it," Russell said. "It's kind of a shock.

"There's nothing that you can do to prepare yourself for this. It's kind of weird. I dont know how to feel. There's a lot of excitement and a lot of mixed emotions. It's going to be a good thing."

Bonifacio, 29, is hitting .279 with two home runs and 18 RBIs to go along with 14 stolen bases this year. Since returning from an oblique strain that kept him out of the lineup for over a month, he was hitting .400. Bonifacio was held out of the lineup both Wednesday and Thursday in anticipation of a trade.

Caratini was a second-round pick of the Braves in 2013, hitting .279 with five home runs, 42 RBIs in 87 games for Class A Rome.

"He's a guy we liked in the draft a lot," Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer said. "Catching is a weakness in our system. We don't have enough of it.

"To get a player that we liked we had to add Russell (to the deal)."

^ Back to Top ^