Jim Goulart

Good to read -- Although he left with trainer, #Brewers Wang insists he’s fine.

Has anybody mentioned that Jason Heyward is a free agent after this coming season? Or that Khris Davis slugged .457 and had 61 XBH's in 2014. And that in 72 more AB's, Jason Heyward slugged .384 with 40 XBH's. Six-year controllable RH power-hitters are the most craved properties in all of baseball.

Wow, Brooks Hall, that's how you close out your Fall season in style! 3 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K, 25 pitches (15 strikes), 2:4 GB:FB Mesa Bottom of the 6th Pitching Change: Brooks Hall replaces Wei-Chung Wang. Spencer Kieboom pops out to first baseman Nick Basto. Jacob Hannemann strikes out swinging. Danny Lockhart grounds out, second baseman Darnell Sweeney to first baseman Nick Basto. Mesa Bottom of the 7th Domingo Leyba remains in the game as the second baseman. Defensive Substitution: Scott Schebler replaces right fielder Steven Moya, batting 5th, playing right field. Boog Powell grounds out, second baseman Domingo Leyba to first baseman Nick Basto. Dwight Smith Jr. strikes out swinging. Eric Stamets flies out to left fielder Garabez Rosa. Mesa Bottom of the 8th Jon Berti flies out to center fielder Tyrone Taylor. Dan Vogelbach walks. Offensive Substitution: Pinch-hitter Bijan Rademacher replaces Tony Renda. Bijan Rademacher flies out to right fielder Scott Schebler. Spencer Kieboom flies out to left fielder Garabez Rosa. *** Final Tyrone Taylor update after the game...

Via MLB.com's William Boor: #Brewers Wei-Chung Wang pitched five innings in #AFL14 today then just walked to clubhouse with trainers. Grabbed lower back at one point. Not clear if Wang is hurt or not, five innings is a typical AFL start, but then again pitchers don’t typically leave with trainers. Andrew Gruman: Not a great final start today, but Wei-Chung Wang finishes the Arizona Fall League with a 2.74 ERA over 23 IP in six starts. #Brewers *** 5 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 0 BB, 3 K, 1 HR, 64 pitches (41 strikes), 8:2 GB:FB -- Big strikeout to end the 4th Mesa Bottom of the 1st Eric Stamets flies out to right fielder Steven Moya. Jon Berti pops out to first baseman Nick Basto in foul territory. Dan Vogelbach grounds out, second baseman Darnell Sweeney to first baseman Nick Basto. Mesa Bottom of the 2nd Tony Renda grounds out, first baseman Nick Basto to pitcher Wei-Chung Wang. Spencer Kieboom strikes out swinging. Jacob Hannemann grounds out to first baseman Nick Basto. Mesa Bottom of the 3rd Danny Lockhart singles on a ground ball to second baseman Darnell Sweeney. Boog Powell lines out to left fielder Garabez Rosa. Chad Hinshaw singles on a line drive to left fielder Garabez Rosa. Danny Lockhart to 2nd. Eric Stamets flies out to left fielder Garabez Rosa on the infield fly rule. Jon Berti homers (3) on a fly ball to left field. Danny Lockhart scores. Chad Hinshaw scores. Dan Vogelbach grounds out, first baseman Nick Basto to pitcher Wei-Chung Wang. Mesa Bottom of the 4th Tony Renda called out on strikes. Spencer Kieboom singles on a line drive to center fielder Tyrone Taylor. Jacob Hannemann grounds into a force out, first baseman Nick Basto to shortstop Tim Anderson. Spencer Kieboom out at 2nd. Jacob Hannemann to 1st. Danny Lockhart reaches on a fielding error by second baseman Darnell Sweeney. Danny Lockhart to 2nd. Jacob Hannemann advances to 3rd, on a throwing error by second baseman Darnell Sweeney. Boog Powell strikes out swinging. Mesa Bottom of the 5th Chad Hinshaw pops out to shortstop Tim Anderson. Eric Stamets grounds out, second baseman Darnell Sweeney to first baseman Nick Basto. Jon Berti singles on a ground ball to shortstop Tim Anderson. Dan Vogelbach doubles (4) on a fly ball to right fielder Steven Moya. Jon Berti scores. Tony Renda grounds out, second baseman Darnell Sweeney to first baseman Nick Basto *** RHP Brooks Hall is doing a fine job in relief of Wang in this ongoing contest. Details later on...

1:35 Central CF Tyrone Taylor bats 3rd, only Brewer in the lineup for the finale outside of Mr. Wang.

As the day goes by, wonder if this will not even come as close to happening as the "Hector Gomez to the Angels" non-trade from last March, which at least made it to MLB.com's transaction page and is still listed on Gomez's page at Baseball Reference and Baseball Prospectus. Physicals holding things up?

Derek of BrewCrewBall follows up with some additional worthwhile thoughts. (And it is very cool that the various Brewers-centric sites are all very good about hat-tipping and acknowledging other site's efforts. We are lucky within the kindred Brewers-based web-o-sphere, no doubt....)

The sportswriter who first hinted at this has replied to an inquiry from Adam of @BrewerNation fame -- @AP_WG Good morning, Willie. Any additional detail you can provide on the Quintana scoop? Being local, did you hear it from his family? Thx! @BrewerNation Yes, on last question. Saw elsewhere from reliable source. Waiting for details via MLB or AP.

Be sure to visit this thread for discussion of a possible Brewers-Braves trade involving a Milwaukee farmhand.

Dominican Box Score 3B Luis Jimenez 0-for-3 with a walk *** Puerto Rico Box Score Nice bounceback start for RHP Jacob Barnes -- 3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K, not clean but pitched out of a lot of trouble well... Santurce Bottom of the 1st Jack Lopez strikes out swinging. Delino DeShields flies out to right fielder Henry Ramos. Jordan Lennerton doubles (2) on a fly ball to center fielder Juan Silva. Jonathan Rodriguez walks. Jorge Padilla grounds out, pitcher Jacob Barnes to first baseman Carlos Rivera. Santurce Bottom of the 2nd A. J. Jimenez flies out to center fielder Juan Silva. Reymond Fuentes triples (2) on a fly ball to right fielder Henry Ramos. Dickie Joe Thon strikes out swinging. Emmanuel Marrero called out on strikes. Santurce Bottom of the 3rd Jack Lopez flies out to right fielder Henry Ramos. Delino DeShields flies out to center fielder Juan Silva. Jordan Lennerton walks. Jonathan Rodriguez singles on a ground ball to left fielder Trever Adams. Jordan Lennerton to 2nd. Jorge Padilla strikes out swinging. Yadiel Rivera was a late defensive replacement at third base.

From October 27th -- a translated Tim Dillard interview: For Tim Dillard, imported pitcher Águilas del Zulia, playing baseball in Venezuela is an adventure enjoy. Imitates peers and makes jokes, so it adapts to the Venezuelan professional baseball, just as he touched his dad, Steve, when he was with Navegantes del Magallanes in the 1976-1977 harvest. By law they have not given him his first hit despite totaling 8.0 episodes of work. With his famous mustache that resembles what Freddie Mercury (Queen frontman died), he attended the Truth in one of the benches in the dugout of the premises. - Tell me about your experience in the league, how have you been? - It was pretty good, the team is very good and always want to play for a team that wins. I love the fans, this is probably the biggest adjustment I've had to do with every pitch looks the World Series (laughs). - It always seems to be in good spirits, how does that work on a dugout? - No all the time in a good mood, but it's hard not to be here. I played 12 seasons in the US and had never had anything like this. For me, every day is an adventure. I have a good attitude because I'm having fun. - How good is playing in Venezuela? - It's special. My dad played here in Venezuela about 38 years ago. Cycle is complete: he played in the minors and in the majors, I like. He played in Venezuela and I'm playing in Venezuela. My father told me: "Be careful because not everyone stops at stop signs" (laughs). I said, "Okay, but hopefully I will not have to drive anywhere." I'm not good at handling at home, unless it would be here. During the games I hardly ever feel, emotion. It's the first inning and people are crazy, that's baseball as it should be everywhere. - Do you like Freddie Mercury? - Yes, (laughs), I know who I like his music. Are questions about how I look? I wanted to look more like a cowboy, like Magnum PI, Tom Selleck as. But okay, Freddie Mercury (laughs), I will cut him off a little. - Do your colleagues make jokes about your mustache? - Yes, they call me "Moustache" (laughs), it's amazing. My wife does not like, but she's not here. Before going home told me to cut it, but I'll enjoy it while you have it. The first night I threw here fans screamed.. "! Moustache Moustache Moustache" and I knew what they meant I thought it was they did not like me, but then I cleared everything I'm impressed, this is a good place to play baseball. - Tell me about your way of launching. - I used to throw overhand. In 2010, the Brewers drew me to the field of majors and had a good fastball, but nothing more; no slider, no change. I asked why not tossed aside. They said: "We are ready to give you a chance pitching side, you should look for another team if you want to keep pitching for the top." I considered throwing underneath and then spring training and 10 home runs allowed (laughs). I never had a coach to help me, everything I do on the mound I have learned for myself. Finally it's working and I'm recognizing what kind of pitcher I am. It also helps me to Eddie (Eduardo Perez, manager of Eagles) put me in situations where I can work. - And so far did it go well? - I go to try to get all the outs. Tell you what: Francisco (Arcia) is great behind the plate, I said I had special signs and other things I like to do, I told you once. When I attack, it is not even close to talk. If I know the batter, he knows it and tells me how to throw. I'm surrounded by people who know what they are doing and that helps me. Tim's Halloween tweet included this:

UPDATE from translated Venezuelan text -- Starter Andy Moye, after facing two batters, left the game due to right shoulder ailments. Moye had missed the rest of the regular season at Huntsville after a mid-July DL placement (undisclosed injury). It's awkward to think the Brewers may learn of these late-night issues from our posts here; we imagine Moye or his agent have already contacted the Brewers.

Venezuela Box Score Rare 0-for-4 for Orlando Arcia *** Venezuela Box Score RHP Tim Dillard strands two inherited runners, tosses an additional scoreless frame, and moves his record to 4-1. A nice night. Caracas Top of the 6th Alex Gonzalez strikes out swinging. Blake Gailen walks. Aguilas del Zulia Manager Eddie Perez ejected by HP umpire Gabrial Alfonzo. Luis Antonio Rodriguez walks. Blake Gailen to 2nd. Pitching Change: Tim Dillard replaces Alex Torres. Daniel Mayora grounds into a double play, third baseman Giovanny Urshela to second baseman Hernan Perez to first baseman Mark Minicozzi. Luis Antonio Rodriguez out at 2nd. Caracas Top of the 7th Danry Vasquez strikes out swinging. Yorvit Torrealba bunt grounds out, catcher Sandy Leon to first baseman Mark Minicozzi. L. J. Hoes doubles (1) on a line drive to left fielder Aaron Altherr. Henry Alejandro Rodriguez pops out to catcher Sandy Leon in foul territory. *** Venezuela Box Score RHP Andy Moye's start only lasted three batters, hope he's OK -- The second walk was charged to Moye, so he left in the middle of facing that batter, that's not good. Aragua Top of the 1st Eduardo Escobar grounds out, second baseman Carlos Garcia to first baseman Josh Kroeger. Ramon Flores walks. Pitching Change: Carlos Monasterios replaces Andy Moye. Hector Gimenez walks. Ramon Flores to 2nd. Jose Martinez walks. Ramon Flores to 3rd. Hector Gimenez to 2nd. Avisail Garcia grounds into a force out, first baseman Josh Kroeger to shortstop Wilfredo Tovar. Ramon Flores scores. Hector Gimenez to 3rd. Jose Martinez out at 2nd. Avisail Garcia to 1st. Renato Nunez grounds out, third baseman Alberto Gonzalez to first baseman Josh Kroeger.

Game story from MiLB.com Box Score / Game Log All eleven hits are still singles, but Shawn Zarraga continues to put bat on ball and find holes, now 11-for-31 with five walks (five K's), good for a .355/.444/.355 line that mirrors in many ways his 2014 season (at least the non-Nashville portion of it). Zarraga had a big two-RBI base knock in this one. 1B Nick Ramirez was 0-for-4 (one K); RF Clint Coulter was 0-for-3 with an HBP. One Brewer fan in attendance wasn't impressed watching Coulter on defense (tweet). Hector Gomez, playing third base, was 0-for-2 and pulled for no apparent reason in the 5th. Have a Fall Season, Mike Strong! Kudos to the lefty, "strong" again -- works around his own trouble... Salt River Bottom of the 8th Pitching Change: Michael Strong replaces Joe Mantiply. Rio Ruiz grounds out sharply to first baseman Nick Ramirez. Taylor Featherston triples (3) on a sharp line drive to center fielder Daniel Fields. Chris O'Dowd called out on strikes. Evan Marzilli grounds out, shortstop Darnell Sweeney to first baseman Nick Ramirez. Season finale on Thursday, looks like the Desert Dogs fall just short of a division title and championship game appearance despite a 4th straight win Wednesday. At least we get one more Wei-Chung Wang start on Thursday, you'll be able to track it here.

You could be on to something there -- this from MLB Trade Rumors Wednesday discusses their willingness to move bullpen arms.

OK, bear with me, first Tom Haudricourt tweeted on Wednesday evening -- Would #Brewers trade a starting pitcher? They could use some payroll flexibility and Braves have been asking around at the GM meetings. W.G. Ramirez is an Associated Press sports writer based out of Las Vegas. His various recent AP articles can be found here. So late Wednesday (OK, maybe not so late from Vegas), he tweeted -- Former Arbor View standout Zach Quintana was traded from the @Brewers organization to the @Braves organization today. #MLB Now, a little bit on Zach Quintana - he was the Brewers' 3rd round pick in 2012, a 5'11" RHP out of a Las Vegas high school. He'll turn 21 in April, and his pro numbers thus far have not been pretty -- one season each in Maryvale, Helena, and Wisconsin. So obviously, or seemingly so, Quintana is not going to be traded on his own. He's the exact type of flyer/throw-in that is normally part of a larger deal. A player who was highly regarded on draft day, who based on performance, his current organization may have soured on. Perhaps the Braves really liked him in 2012 as well, and are anxious for their coaches to take a shot on. Must admit, it's fascinating to learn the mechanisms behind Ramirez' tweet. Did the Brewers inform Zach directly (we imagine so). And then did the Braves contact him to welcome him into their organization? And then did someone in the Quintana household, Zach himself or a parent, give Ramirez, the local sports writer who likely wrote about Zach during his prep school days, a phone call? Have to love the fun and intrigue social media has given the hot stove season in recent years. *** EDIT: The sportswriter who first hinted at this has replied to an inquiry from Adam of @BrewerNation fame -- @AP_WG Good morning, Willie. Any additional detail you can provide on the Quintana scoop? Being local, did you hear it from his family? Thx! @BrewerNation Yes, on last question. Saw elsewhere from reliable source. Waiting for details via MLB or AP.

Correct, but Axford had the right to elect free agency and did so.

Brief Adam McCalvy audio on MLB.com

Wei-Chung Wang scouting report

I believe Pittsburgh outrighted him the the minors, so not a free agent. Axford is a free agent. He's also on the linked list that kicks off this thread.

FYI - We have been informed that Tim Dillard's minor league contract signing did not include a major league spring camp invite, as we previously mentioned.

The Brewers released the following players today (all links on names lead to career stats): 23-year-old RH reliever Ryan Deeter was Milwaukee's 2013 32nd round pick out of UCLA. At Helena in 2014, Deeter made 17 appearances, walking 16 and fanning 21 in 22 innings. Deeter was an award-winning mathematics and economics student, so we trust he'll do very well in his post-Brewers career. Recently-turned 24-year-old RH reliever Andy Hillis, drafted in the 11th round in 2013, one of three pitchers the Brewers grabbed from Lee University in Tennessee that June (joining LHP Clint Terry, and RHP Alex Moore, Moore has since retired). Hillis posted somewhat monstrous numbers in Helena in 2013 (one ER in 17 appearances), and then we never did find out why he was assigned to Maryvale for this past season, where he struggled terribly. It must have been injury-related, although we never got formal word at all. Hillis was interviewed shortly after draft day (text at the @BrewerNation blog), and here's Helena audio interview from August 2013. OF Dionis Hinojosa turned 24 in August. He spent five seasons in the Brewers system, the first two in the Dominican. Hinojosa had a surprise 14-game stint in Brevard County in 2013, but otherwise never advanced beyond rookie ball, still further than many of the DSL kids make it. Utility infielder Greg Hopkins will be 26 this month, so his career path had taken a hit in 2014 with diminished playing time and a demotion to Brevard County from Huntsville this past July. Hopkins had a nice run for a 24th round pick (2010); we know he's proud of his St. John's University roots. He finishes five seasons with a .245/.296/.354 line (.650 OPS). Infielder (later on outfielder) Jose Sermo, 23, is a Puerto Rico native who was drafted in the 35th round (2012) out of Bethany College in Kansas. Like Greg Hopkins, Sermo served mainly in a backup role to a very talented 2014 Manatee starting lineup. However, he did produce one of the most exciting moments of the '14 Link Report season, captured on video by the Brevard staff here. Infielder (occasional outfielder) Shea Vucinich, 26 years old this December, is another who saw playing time in a backup role recently, at Huntsville the last two seasons where he posted consecutive OPS numbers right around .600. Vucinich was not included on the Huntsville postseason roster as players like Tyrone Taylor and Orlando Arcia got to take part. Vucinich will likely live on in infamy as our last featured Brewerfan home page article, posted back in June of 2010. Since that point in 2010, we've tried to remind folks that Brewerfan essentially exists just as a forum (a kick-butt forum, but only a forum). OF turned LHP Max Walla, 23, is the first player on this list that can be listed as a draft disappointment, 2nd rounder in 2009 as a power-hitting lefty bat out of a New Mexico high school. It's too bad that a 2014 shift to Maryvale to re-invent himself on the mound didn't pan out, especially since the young man had a positive attitude about the opportunity on social media. Walla never advanced past Wisconsin, and his .342 SLG percentage in 689 plate appearances as a Timber Rattler wasn't what the Brewers had hoped for, certainly. Sidenote - Walla was the compensation pick for C.C. Sabathia, when Mark Teixeira's compensation status screwed the Brewers out of a certain Angels outfielder by a single draft pick, in a truly history-changing circumstance. Still just 19 years old, OF Eric Williams was the 23rd round 2013 pick, out of a Texas high school. He had OBP's of .333 and .338 in his two seasons at Maryvale and Helena, respectively. He was successful on just 14 of 23 SB attempts, and at 5'10", 190, had nine XBH's in 262 career AB's. Should he not pursue indy ball opportunities, it's likely Williams has money for college coming his way from the organization. Clearly, the most recognizable name on today's release list was eight-game 2013 big leaguer Josh Prince. Spending 2014 down at the AA level, Prince (3rd round, 2009) finishes his pro career (minus his brief big league stay) with a .249/.338/.341 line (.709 OPS), and 209 steals (67 CS). To be honest, there haven't been a lot of breakout players from the '09 3rd and 4th rounds, so it's hard to fault the Walla and Prince picks that year. As always, we wish all these young men well in future endeavors, on and off the field.

Brewers announce nine releases -- we will post information on their careers here shortly. "Recent Brewer releases: Deeter, Hillis, Hinojosa, Hopkins, Prince, Sermo, Vucinich, Walla, WilliamsE. We wish them all the best."

Puerto Rico Box Score SS Yadiel Rivera 0-for-3 with a sacrifice fly RBI, one fielding error *** Mexico Box Score After five days idle, bad relief stint for RHP Manny Barreda -- Los Mochis Top of the 8th Pitching Change: Manny Barreda replaces Arturo Barradas. Sandy Madera walks. Brian Burgamy walks. Sandy Madera to 2nd. Ramon Orantes grounds into a double play, shortstop Issmael Salas to first baseman Cody Decker. Sandy Madera to 3rd. Brian Burgamy out at 2nd. Saul Soto walks. Pitching Change: Hector Daniel Rodriguez replaces Manny Barreda. Emmanuel Avila singles on a ground ball to right fielder Eric Farris. Sandy Madera scores. Saul Soto to 2nd. Justin Christian flies out to right fielder Eric Farris in foul territory. Barreda has now walked 10 in 12.1 winter innings over 13 appearances. *** Dominican Box Score 3B Luis Jimenez singled in four AB's, fanning twice. *** Venezuela Box Score In 11 outings covering eight innings, RHP Greg Holle has allowed 18 baserunners but has managed to limit the damage (3.38 ERA). Only one K all season... Aragua Top of the 8th Pitching Change: Greg Holle replaces Casey Lawrence. Renato Nunez flies out to center fielder Taylor Motter. Alex Romero flies out to left fielder Luis Maza. Willson Contreras singles on a ground ball to left fielder Luis Maza. With Teodoro Martinez batting, wild pitch by Greg Holle, Willson Contreras to 2nd. Teodoro Martinez grounds out, pitcher Greg Holle to first baseman Josh Kroeger.