RIO DE JANERIO (AP) - Hey there Rio fans, have you taken a look at your team's roster recently? What you might find may shock you. Only two position players remain from the 2014 Weaver Cup winning team; age-less catcher Mike Lieberthal and backup second basemen Larry Fifield. With Lieberthal debating retirement, next year's squad may see a completely new cast from that 2014 team.

Not surprisingly, the mass exodus of bodies has left the Rio squad last in the Roehm division, with the first sub .500 record in the team's history. Some say the bubble had to burst, but few could have predicted just how quick the fall would be.

Where have they all gone? Retirements took a big toll, but management has done its share of wheeling and dealing. We catch up with Rio owner Ralph Kraskiewicz and get his thoughts on the events that have transpired since their 2014 Weaver Cup victory.

The focus was clearly on the future when shortstop Cary Chien, a player who appears to be entering the prime of his career, was traded to rival Jamaica Rastafarians for young right fielder Gardner and the numbers five (2B Ray Rice) and twenty nine picks (3B Steve Guinn).

"I know people are shaking their heads over the loss of Chien, but we received three players who I'm confident will one day make their mark. Ray Rice sure looks like the real deal at second and I have a feeling that kid's gonna put up some big numbers in his career."

Perhaps the biggest blockbuster came way of the deal with the Tokyo Tsunamis which saw Rio send all-stars Alfredo Hernandez, Gabby Brumley and Bill Perry in exchange for Baumann and Geiger.

"It's not often you can make a deal where you get younger and receive the best player in the deal. With the Baumann deal, we felt we did just that. He (Baumann) can run, he can catch, and man oh man can he hit. Not only did we get one of the top third basemen in the league, we also shored up our first base slot for many years to come with Geiger."

So what's the future look like? With five picks in the top twenty nine in the past amateur draft, another set of early round picks this year, and Tokyo's first round pick courtesy of the Stillwell trade, there must be some room for optimism.

"First, we're very happy with the group of guys we drafted this past season. It looks like we have a speedy young team that plays the fundamentals very well down there in the minors. It'll be up to us to develop that talent. Secondly, it's apparent our farm system lacks a strong pitching base, and it is something we'll be addressing over the course of the next several months. Be it via trade or draft."