Braves and Cubs Complete Three-Player Trade

ATLANTA, Ga. - The Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs announced this afternoon that they have completed a three-player trade, as the Braves have acquired infielder Emilio Bonifacio, left-handed pitcher James Russell and cash considerations in exchange for minor-league catcher Victor Caratini.

Bonifacio, 29, has played in 681 career games over parts of eight seasons with Arizona (2007-08), Washington (2008), Miami (2009-12), Toronto (2013), Kansas City (2013) and Chicago (2014). The switch-hitter posted a .279 (77-for-276) batting average with the Cubs in 69 games this season and is a career .264 hitter with 152 stolen bases in 194 attempts. In 2014, Bonifacio has collected 14 doubles, three triples, two home runs and 35 runs scored. This season he has tallied 48 games (36 starts) in center field, 26 games (23 starts) at second base, seven games (three starts) at third base and one at shortstop.

Russell, 28, has spent his entire five-year career with the Cubs. He has worked in 316 career games, including 311 out of the bullpen (all five of his starts came in 2011). Russell owns 10-16 career record with a 3.87 ERA and 203 strikeouts in 272.0 innings pitched. He is 0-2 in 2014 with a 3.51 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 33.0 IP, and has held right-handed batters to a .103 average (6-for-58).

Caratini, 20, is currently with Single-A Rome and owns a .283 career average over two minor-league seasons. The native of Ponce, Puerto Rico, is batting .279 in 2014 and paced the Rome Braves with 42 RBI. He was the Braves' second-round selection (65^th overall) in the 2013 June draft.