EDMONTON (AP) - Let us take a trip to the past. Mid-August, before the trading deadline. Edmonton Orcas management looked to the future and thought to bring in some talent. The checkbooks opened up. Talent and picks became available. When the dust settled, 8 players, 3 picks, and 2 free agents were moved around. Two years later, most of that talent was moved again, this time in mid-June. Here's what happened.

Berlin's Yogi Berra found himself in Edmonton for 3 talented minor leaguers. At the time, the Oracs were deep with pitching and needed a big bat behind the plate. However, Berra underachieved from day one. He never hit better than .255 and averaged less than 20 HRs a season - not the production fans were hoping for from a middle of the lineup player. With the amazing development of catcher Serafin Quintanar, Berra became expendable. Now, the Johannasburg Steelmen have Berra and Edmonton snagged a surprizing center fielder in Jake Mills along with a couple of draft picks. Mills, although hitting around Berra's average, leads the team with 10 home runs and 34 RBIs.

Jake Mills took over center field for Jermaine Dye, who you may recall came from the Hong Kong Dragons for free agent pitcher Tim Adkinson and utility man Trot Nixon. Although Dye perfomed well with the Orcas, leading the league in stolen bases for 2012 his age and knees became an issue. "As a leadoff guy, he was fantastic," remarked Orca coach Robin Yount. "This year, he just seemed to be trying for the long ball and not hitting to all fields." After a dismal start, Dye found himself suddenly across the border with the Los Angeles Riots for a first round pick.

Infielder Russ Johnson is also no longer with the team. He came from the Port Louis Dodos for three draft picks. Although Johnson played well, his age and range became factors. General Manager J.J. Wurz said at a recent news conference, "When you assemble a team to compete and fill holes, then they don't perform at all, you have to wonder what happened. Bad luck? Bad timing? Who knows. This is baseball. But, when it does happen, you have to know how to react." Johnson made the headlines again in a controvercial trade with the Sicily Godfathers as he, pitcher Jim Keener, and a first round pick went to Sicily for highly touted shortstop Roy David and second baseman Dave Moore. "It's a horrible trade. David is too old and way overrated," claimed one GM who wished to remain anonymous. Although no official statement was given by the Godfathers, a source close to the organization said, "Problem wid da trade? Dere's no problem wid da trade. Do you see a problem wid da trade? I hope you ain't sayin' you see a problem wid da trade..."

So much for proven veterans plugging holes. In fact, the youth movement became so entrenched that even fan favorite Todd Walker, who signed that lucritive 7 year 'undisclosed amount' but over $100 million contract in 2009, is no longer an Orca. He's in Havana playing for the Cigars in exchange for talented young first baseman Paul Burnett. Only veteran free agent Darrin Erstad remains, mostly because he's been on the DL since opening day with a ruptured medial collateral ligament.

So, Edmonton fans will now watch 4 rookie position players develop on the field, and will probably watch two more next season if players don't pan out. The pitching staff looks set. They again, only need an offense to make things close. With outfielders Rick Randolph, Chuck Isbell, and Kelly Laskey continaully improving, it can't be long now, can it?