CHICAGO -- The contending Atlanta Braves bolstered their bench and bullpen on Thursday, acquiring utilityman Emilio Bonifacio and left-hander James Russell in a trade with the Chicago Cubs. The Braves also got cash back from the Cubs in exchange for catching prospect Victor Caratini. Bonifacio and Russell did not play in the Cubs 3-1 win over Colorado on Thursday afternoon. "These are two pieces that we really like," Atlanta GM Frank Wren said on a conference call. "In Bonifacio, we got a really versatile bench player who can do a lot of things well. In Russells case, its another veteran bullpen arm." Russell was in the home bullpen at Wrigley Field when the trade was made. He hugged several of his teammates and coaches -- and slapped hands with a few fans -- as he exited while the game was going on. "Its kind of hard to wrap your head around it," Russell said. "Its obviously a shock. I knew things were gonna happen. Theres really nothing you can do to prepare yourself for this. Its still kind of weird. I dont know how to feel. Theres a lot of excitement, a lot of mixed emotions." The 29-year-old Bonifacio hit .279 with 14 steals in 69 games for the Cubs this season. He previously played for Atlanta manager Fredi Gonzalez when they were both with the Marlins. "Hes a guy who gives you a lot of versatility. You can play him anywhere on the field," Gonzalez said in Los Angeles. "You can bring him off the bench or start him if the matchup is right. Hes a nice National League player." The 28-year-old Russell is 0-2 with one save and a 3.51 ERA in 44 games. "Hes not your traditional left-handed reliever," Gonzalez said. "You can let him run through some right-handers. Hes durable." Atlanta is in the chase for the NL East title, and the Cubs are last in the NL Central. The 20-year-old Caratini was selected by the Braves in the second round of the 2013 draft. He hit .279 with five homers and 42 RBIs in 87 games with Class A Rome this season. "Hes a guy we liked in the draft a lot," Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer. "Weve said it all along, catching is a weakness in our system and we dont have enough of it." Brian ONeill Jersey . -- Theres nothing like winning to bring hope for a struggling team. Randy Moss Vikings Jersey . It all would have been for naught, however, had it not been for some clutch shooting in the fourth quarter by Kobe Bryant and a couple of equally critical hustle plays by Derek Fisher and Pau Gasol in the final minutes. http://www.vikingsteamofficial.com/brian-o-neill-jersey/. Needing to bulk up on both sides of the line, the Falcons agreed to terms with guard Jon Asamoah, defensive end Tyson Jackson and defensive tackle Paul Soliai. Asamoah and Jackson played last season with Kansas City, where Asamoah lost his starting job. Jalyn Holmes Jersey . He did one better Sunday by holing out a pitching wedge from 142 yards for eagle, capping a remarkable 28 on the back nine to win The Championship at Laguna National. Mike Remmers Vikings Jersey . The 25-year-old native of Milford, Conn., has 18 points in 41 games this season. The five-foot-eight 166-pound centre also has 28 points (10-18) in 15 games with AHL Oklahoma City.In a very unexpected title race, we look at five former Tottenham stars who can do their former club a huge favour. League leaders Leicester are on the verge of making history, but they are anything but over the line yet, as Manchester United fans will testify, having seen their side incredibly chased down by Manchester City in 2012.Spurs lead the chasing pack, and with a seven-point gap to make up, theyll need all the help they can get in their quest for a first Premier League crown themselves. We look at five former Spurs stars who can lend a helping hand and help ruin the Foxes fairy tale.Gylfi Sigurdsson Gylfi Sigurdsson could be most influential in helping Spurs title bid After impressing on-loan with Swansea in 2011/12, Iceland international Gylfi Sigurdsson looked set to make his stay in south Wales permanent, before Spurs swooped in with a last-gasp bid of around £9m to secure his services.The move didnt really pay off, and the attacking midfielder was soon back where his Premier League story started, and is arguably the Swans most pivotal component in their fight for survival.And, in helping his current side stay afloat, Sigurdsson could make his biggest contribution to Spurs - attempting to beat Leicester when Swansea travel to the King Power Stadium on April 24, live on Sky Sports. Will Bendtner ever learn? Nicklas Bendtners Wolfsburg issues The match is most likely one of Leicesters more winnable games, but until safety is mathematically certain, the Swans will not be pushovers, especially with Sigurdsson in their arsenal.Jermain Defoe Jermain Defoe scored 48 league goals for Tottenham Sunderlands hopes of survival rest with Jermain Defoe. He has scored four times as many goals as anyone else in the Black Cats squad, but the former Spurs striker can do serious damage to his former sides rivals simultaneously.Sam Allardyces side host Leicester on Super Sunday, where even a point will do Sunderland the world of good, and give the chasing pack hope that all is not lost. Then, with Arsenal needing to earn maximum points to close the imposing gap at the top, Sunderland could effectively end Arsene Wengers hopes of a late title tilt - pleasing Spurs fans in more ways than one - when the Black Cats welcome the Gunners to the Stadium of Light on April 24.Michael Carrick Michael Carrick could help his former club out It is easy to forget that Michael Carrick played for two other top flight clubs before Manchester United, having plied his trade at Old Trafford for so long, but Carrick made the jump from promising youngster to potential Roy Keane successor while at White Hart Lane.ddddddddddddWith Bastian Schweinsteiger injured, the United veteran is likely to be Louis van Gaals midfield anchor as United toil for a top four spot.And, in a strange turn of events, rather than being the team chasing the title, United welcome Leicester to Old Trafford on May 1, live on Sky Sports, with the visitors the ones gunning for the Premier League crown.The Foxes have thrived through playing counter-attacking football, and Carricks main task will be to dictate tempo so that Claudio Ranieris side are stifled, thus opening the door for Spurs, should they still be in the race at that point.Emmanuel Adebayor Emmanuel Adebayor taunted Arsenal fans when at Man City In a colourful career, Emmanuel Adebayor enjoyed some of his most fruitful years at White Hart Lane, before falling out of favour and being released in September.Adebayor is now with struggling Crystal Palace, looking to resurrect his career, and having a notoriously fractious relationship with Arsenal fans since his departure in 2009, the enigmatic striker would love nothing more than to end the Gunners title hopes.He will get an opportunity to do just that when Palace travel to Arsenal on May 17, live on Sky Sports, helping the Eagles steer clear of the bottom three in the process.Aaron Lennon Aaron Lennon has enjoyed a revival at Everton Having spent ten years in north London, falling out of favour at Spurs must have knocked Aaron Lennons confidence a great deal, but he has done a fine job of rejuvenating himself at Everton.With some talented attacking players at his disposal, Roberto Martinezs persistence with Lennon is testament to the England internationals ability, and such quality could have a big say in the title race.Leicester host the Toffees on May 7, live on Sky Sports, and with only two games to go after the King Power encounter, the fixture could well be make or break for the Foxes.Everton have previous in this scenario, coming back from the dead to draw 4-4 at Old Trafford, paving the way for City to overtake their rivals, and Lennons pace on the counter could help instigate a similar late revival for his former club. Also See: How could City line up? English football permutations When can Leicester win the title? Rise of Wes Morgan? White NFL Jerseys Cheap Youth NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys 2020 Stitched NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Autographed Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys Discount Jerseys ' ' '