Closer Alfonseca traded to Cubs

The Cubs acquired Antonio Alfonseca and pitcher Matt Clement from the Florida Marlins in a six-player trade Wednesday. <br> <br> Florida obtained pitcher Julian Tavarez and three minor leaguers - pitchers Jose Cueto and Dontrelle Willis and catcher Ryan Jorgensen. <br> <br> ``Alfonseca is a proven guy in the ninth inning,&#39;&#39; said Jim Hendry, the Cubs&#39; vice president of player personnel. ``It&#39;s just a chance to add a quality person late in the game.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Alfonseca, who will make $3.55 million this season, led the majors with 45 saves in 2000. He had 28 saves and a career-best 3.06 ERA last season despite pitching with back pain much of the season. <br> <br> While Alfonseca left camp without extensive comment - ``I&#39;ve got nothing to say&#39;&#39; - Clement cleaned out his locker, then aired out his feelings about the Marlins. <br> <br> ``You wouldn&#39;t think a team that&#39;s 29th in salary would be trimming payroll, but obviously that&#39;s their motive,&#39;&#39; said Clement, who will make $2.5 million this season. ``I don&#39;t have too much to say, but as a whole I&#39;m not very impressed with the Marlins&#39; organization. I&#39;m very impressed with the new staff, but I can&#39;t say anything good about the organization from the top other than I got to play with a lot of good teammates and friends. <br> <br> ``It doesn&#39;t take me to spell it out. It looks to me like it&#39;s a matter of time before the rest of the boys start going right along with me.&#39;&#39; <br> <br> Owner Jeffrey Loria adamantly defended the move, which leaves the Marlins&#39; payroll slightly over $40 million for this season. <br> <br> ``This is not the beginning of anything,&#39;&#39; Loria told The Palm Beach Post. ``This is a tweaking that had to be done. I wouldn&#39;t be here if that wasn&#39;t the case. You can take that to the bank.&#39;&#39;

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