LONG BEACH (AP) - Despite rumors about budget problems in Long Beach, Lobsters GM Byron Russell has retooled the team for 2014 by actually adding payroll in the form of RF James Coleman and P Mark Haid from Cario, and 1b Ron Wright and P Jeffery D'Amico from the L.A. Riots.

With the departure of Darius O'Neal to Jamacia via free agency and the retirements of Jim Thome, John Roper, and George Cante, there were several holes to fill after an excting 2013 season ended in playoff disappointment to eventual champion Hong Kong.

Comments Russell, "The price of contention for 2013 was huge in terms of the future in the ultra competitive Roehm Division. We loaded up for a run in 2013 and the next few seasons, and without making these moves we could not attempt to maintain our recent competitive nature.

"O'Neal was offered a real lucurative offer to stay in Long Beach, but we were unable to match the dollar amount Jamacia threw at him. Adding a bat like Wright will more than offset his loss in terms of offense, and he brings that winning professional attitude from his years of success in L.A. Coleman is returning home and it is our hope that this will enable him to reach his potential as a player. His addition gives us depth and a great platoon situation at DH with Kelvin Thomas. Haid will give us another veteran in the bullpen. Finally the addition of D'Amico solidifies a great rotation for us. We have been trying to land D'Amico for years on end, and finally he will join Mike Castro, Russ Ford, Bob Reyes and Stan Englund to give us a great starting staff. The costs of our 2104 picks and most of our low level talent was high, but the future is now."

Owner Ken Paplanus added, "I am pleased with the moves of our GM as we gear up for the 2014 season. To land these four great vets with limited resources to deal with was a great feat. The Roehm with Rio and Havana, plus up and comers Vancouver, Jamacia, and Edmonton will be REAL tough this season. We have done all we can to try our best to compete this season."

Despite public announcements that all is OK in Long Beach, rumors continue that these moves have put even more pressure on a tight budget situation in Long Beach, and failure of the team to come out of the gate and compete will result in a massive trading sale of players. Asked to comment on these reports, Long Beach officials offered a no comment. Says Mr. Paplanus," Anything is possible."

Stay tuned for the soap opera in Long Beach.