Jim Goulart

If you follow Josh Kusnick on Twitter, or have seen Adam McCalvy's related tweets, you know it's a matter of time for the Brewers to announce the signing of former Cubs big league RH reliever Jaye Chapman (major league stats (14 games), and minor league career. Josh tweeted out a link to this August article, very thorough and highly recommended, for all the detailed background. Very cool story at BP penned by Josh on his relationship with Chapman.

They're done, just the three added listed above. Goforth among those available at Rule 5 time.

Free Tyler Cravy! Convinced lost 2014 time (oblique) cost him a 40-spot; 113 H allowed in 161.1 IP last two years, WHIP 0.97. Will Brewers be plucked at Rule 5 time (Cravy, Goforth, others...)?

Via the Brewers -- Brewers have added Taylor Jungmann, Michael Strong, and Yadiel Rivera to the 40 man roster. Roster now at 39.

Venezuela Box Score Fear Arcia! Orlando walked twice (once intentionally) and was HBP, finishing 0-for-1. He drove in a run on a sacrifice fly.

Venezuela Box Score RHP Greg Holle stranded two inherited runners, and his bullpen helped him the following inning. It was his 14th appearance of the winter season. Lara Bottom of the 6th Pitching Change: Jhonathan Ramos replaces Omar Poveda. Maikol Gonzalez lines out to third baseman Wilson Batista. Cesar Izturis flies out to right fielder David Peralta. Paulo Orlando singles on a ground ball to center fielder Taylor Motter. Carlos Rivero walks. Paulo Orlando to 2nd. Pitching Change: Greg Holle replaces Jhonathan Ramos. J. C. Linares walks. Paulo Orlando to 3rd. Carlos Rivero to 2nd. Brian Hernandez grounds into a force out, shortstop Alberto Gonzalez to second baseman Luis Maza. J. C. Linares out at 2nd. Lara Bottom of the 7th Gabriel Noriega singles on a ground ball to second baseman Luis Maza. Pitching Change: Jesus Yepez replaces Greg Holle. Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Robert Perez replaces Jose Yepez. Robert Perez grounds into a double play, third baseman Wilson Batista to second baseman Luis Maza to first baseman Eliezer Alfonzo. Gabriel Noriega out at 2nd. Cesar Hernandez singles on a ground ball to center fielder Taylor Motter. Pitching Change: Matt Nevarez replaces Jesus Yepez. Maikol Gonzalez bunt grounds out, third baseman Wilson Batista to first baseman Eliezer Alfonzo.

The article was about Fall League players. Arcia has been playing in the Venezuelan Winter League.

Dominican Box Score 40-man roster teammates Elian Herrera (again at 2B) and Luis Jimenez (the designated hitter) saw action. Herrera - 1-for-5, BB, R, RBI, SB, K Jimenez - 1-for-5, R, K

Puerto Rico Box Score Yadiel Rivera 0-for-3 (HBP), now 4-for-his-last-32. Rivera played third base in this game.

Puerto Rico Box Score Fine effort (minus the walks) by starting RHP Jacob Barnes -- 4 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 5 K, 1 WP Check out the 3rd inning Houdini act! San Juan Top of the 1st John Andreoli strikes out swinging. Ivan De Jesus pops out to second baseman Rey Navarro. Christian Vazquez strikes out swinging. San Juan Top of the 2nd Jonathan Mota walks. Ruben Gotay pops out to second baseman Rey Navarro. Jon Garcia strikes out swinging. Michael Perez doubles (2) on a line drive to left fielder Trever Adams. Jonathan Mota scores. Geraldo Valentin flies out to right fielder Henry Ramos. San Juan Top of the 3rd Nolan Fontana walks. John Andreoli walks. Nolan Fontana to 2nd. With Ivan De Jesus batting, wild pitch by Jacob Barnes, Nolan Fontana to 3rd. John Andreoli to 2nd. Ivan De Jesus pops out to shortstop Luis Mateo. Christian Vazquez strikes out swinging. Jonathan Mota pops out to second baseman Rey Navarro. San Juan Top of the 4th Ruben Gotay pops out to second baseman Rey Navarro. Jon Garcia strikes out swinging. Michael Perez singles on a line drive to left fielder Trever Adams. Geraldo Valentin grounds out, third baseman Angel Sanchez to first baseman Jaime Ortiz. *** In the same game, 20-year-old RHP Joshua Torres made his 3rd appearance is six days, and he was perfect here, stranding two inherited runners -- sweet! Caguas Bottom of the 6th Rey Navarro grounds out to first baseman Jonathan Mota. Trever Adams singles on a ground ball to center fielder John Andreoli. Johnny Monell singles on a ground ball to third baseman Ruben Gotay. Trever Adams to 2nd. Pitching Change: Joshua Torres replaces Reinier Roibal. Ramon Castro strikes out swinging. Jaime Ortiz flies out to left fielder Geraldo Valentin. Caguas Bottom of the 7th Luis Mateo flies out to center fielder John Andreoli. Angel Sanchez flies out to right fielder Jon Garcia. Henry Ramos grounds out, first baseman Jonathan Mota to pitcher Joshua Torres.

LHP Mike Strong added to the 40-man, as per his management agency (tweet).

Crazy stadium fire images from Cibao in the Dominican Republic; no Brewers play for the Aguilas club, that team is on the road Wednesday. From SI.com: Estadio Cibao, largest stadium in Dominican Republic, 75% damaged in fire Courtesy of @vianaraujo

We've learned that while Ely does not have a big league camp invite, he will be one of the players brought into minor league camp early, something we've seen in recent years.

Newest Brewers farmhand RHP John Ely (career major and minor league stats) was almost exclusively a starting pitcher before Tommy John surgery in '13; pitched in middle relief in '14 with BOS (AAA). From this note last December via Boston WEEI's Alex Speier -- In 2012, while pitching in one of the most hitter-friendly environments in the minors (Triple-A Albuquerque), Ely went 14-7 with a 3.20 ERA, 8.8 strikeouts and 1.9 walks en route to winning Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Year honors. So with this signing, the last three Pacific Coast League Pitchers of the Year are in the Brewers' organization -- Ely, Johnny Hellweg, and Jimmy Nelson.

If the Brewers fill their 40-man roster Thursday, they can still pick up a player at Rule 5, but they would obviously need to free up a spot before the winter meetings.

So the Brewers head into the final night deadline for Rule 5 roster setting with only four spots open. Who is spot #36 if space is needed? Hunter Morris (given the Matt Clark duplication?) Brewers Current 40-Man Roster Did LHP Mike Strong state his case enough in front of plenty of Fall League scouts? Remember when the Mariners successfully plucked LHP Lucas Luetge in the fall of 2011? Lefty relievers are often popular targets, easier to "hide" on a big league roster. Of course, the Brewers don't need to add the maximum four, and to be honest, among the candidates (Taylor Jungmann, Tyler Cravy, Yadiel Rivera, David Goforth, Drew Gagnon, Adam Weisenburger, others), the only 100% guarantee would be Jungmann, as it wouldn't be a total shock to see any combination of the others left exposed for Rule 5. Suppose that also says something about the current crop of farmhands who became Rule 5-eligible this fall, not a particularly outstanding group.

Keep in mind this one's written purely from a future fantasy baseball standpoint. Milwaukee Brewers 2015 Top 10 Fantasy Prospects

Speaking of Venezuela, RHP Eric Marzec tweeted out to his Instagram video of tarp sliding fun. Be careful, dude, you're having a fantastic winter!

Venezuela Box Score SS Orlando Arcia was "only" 1-for-4, but his two-run double drove in all his team's runs in a 5-2 loss -- Caribes Bottom of the 8th Pitching Change: Ryan Kussmaul replaces Joseph Ortiz. Jesus Flores flies out to right fielder Jose Martinez. Ehire Adrianza singles on a ground ball to pitcher Ryan Kussmaul. Gorkys Hernandez strikes out swinging. Niuman Romero doubles (9) on a fly ball to left fielder Jamie Romak. Ehire Adrianza to 3rd. Pitching Change: Gregory Infante replaces Ryan Kussmaul. Orlando Arcia doubles (9) on a fly ball to right fielder Jose Martinez. Ehire Adrianza scores. Niuman Romero scores. Oswaldo Arcia walks. Jose Castillo strikes out swinging.

Puerto Rico Box Score Ouch. Not only did their team lose 8-0, but SS Yadiel Rivera and CF Omar Garcia combined to go 0-for-7 (five K's). An especially tough night for Rivera, who "earned" the golden sombrero (four K's). Get 'em next time, men.

Mexico Box Score Sixteen relief appearances covering 16 innings for the hard-throwing RHP -- Mexicali Top of the 7th Pitching Change: Manny Barreda replaces Jose Meraz. Walter Ibarra singles on a bunt ground ball to first baseman Jorge Vazquez. Walter Ibarra advances to 2nd, on a throwing error by first baseman Jorge Vazquez. Dave Sappelt strikes out swinging. Luis Juarez lines into a double play, left fielder Maxwell Leon to second baseman Eric Farris. Walter Ibarra doubled off 2nd. *** You'll notice former big league cup-of-coffee Brewer Eric Farris in that log above. Farris, having a nice winter, was re-signed by the Twins on Tuesday to a minor league deal with the all-important invite to big league spring training.

Dominican Box Score Big league utility man Elian Herrera made his winter debut, and his victorious club was appreciative, as he drove in the game's only run with a triple. Herrera led off, played second base, and the switch-hitter was batting left-handed when he did this -- Estrellas Top of the 6th Jake Fox hit by pitch. Juan Diaz grounds into a double play, second baseman Anderson Hernandez to shortstop Elmer Reyes to first baseman Jose Ruiz. Jake Fox out at 2nd. Alberto Rosario singles on a ground ball to left fielder Mel Rojas. Elian Herrera triples (1) on a fly ball to center fielder Arismendy Alcantara. Alberto Rosario scores. Pitching Change: Juan Jaime replaces Mitch Atkins. Michael Martinez strikes out swinging. Herrera's teammate is fellow Brewer 40-man roster member Luis Jimenez. Jimenez was 0-for-3 in this one as the DH, now hitting .266 (17-for-64, six XBH's, five BB's, 11 K's).

Molnar said he’s been contacted by scouts from the Washington Nationals, Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Brewers, Dodgers, Padres and Angels, and would be interested in signing a major league contract if selected high enough in the June First-Year Player Draft. Full story -- Kyle Molnar officially signs with UCLA

Biloxi stadium construction reaches highest point Important point in the process, cold weather not expected to halt construction...

Orlando Arcia and Jorge Lopez get some notice in this MLB.com article.