Jim Goulart

Following is a list of players who are free to leave the organization five days after the World Series when minor league free agency begins. These players and the Brewers could agree to sign an additional one-year minor league deal to extend the relationship. Or the Brewers could add the player to the 40-man roster, thus extending the "ownership" of the player, and preventing him from reaching the open market. Minor league free agency will be a pretty scary time for most of these players. For others, fairly big opportunities await. Expect several of these players to be re-signed to minor league deals for 2018. In particular, the organization is slated to lose a huge chunk of their AAA and AA pitching staffs - yes, there will be some Shuckers and Mudcats who move up, and of course, new outsiders brought in, but the Brewers will need bodies to come back. A player who has exhausted all seven years of his original minor league affiliation to the organization that signed him is eligible. Here are the Brewers farmhands who have been with the organization for their full seven-year affiliated commitment (or even longer than seven years for some). We've been following these 13 guys their whole affiliated pro careers (lists below in alphabetical order): RHP Parker Berberet RHP Hiram Burgos - SIGNED BY BREWERS TO A 2018 MINOR LEAGUE CONTRACT RHP Tim Dillard - SIGNED BY BREWERS TO A 2018 MINOR LEAGUE CONTRACT RHP Tyler Cravy RHP David Goforth - SIGNED WITH WASHINGTON 12/9 (BIG LEAGUE CAMP INVITE) C Dustin Houle - SIGNED BY BREWERS TO A 2018 MINOR LEAGUE CONTRACT C Natanael Mejia - SIGNED BY BREWERS TO A 2018 MINOR LEAGUE CONTRACT RHP Jorge Ortega - SIGNED BY BREWERS TO A 2018 MINOR LEAGUE CONTRACT RHP Wily Peralta - SIGNED WITH KANSAS CITY 12/5 (MAJOR LEAGUE DEAL) LHP/1B Nick Ramirez - SIGNED BY BREWERS TO A 2018 MINOR LEAGUE CONTRACT OF Michael Reed - SIGNED WITH ATLANTA 11/28 IF Yadiel Rivera - SIGNED WITH FLORIDA 11/23 RHP Angel Ventura - SIGNED BY BREWERS TO A 2018 MINOR LEAGUE CONTRACT *** Other free agents: LHP Andrew Barbosa - SIGNED WITH LONG ISLAND (Independent Atlantic League) 2/8 RHP Yhonathan Barrios RHP Michael Blazek - SIGNED WITH ARIZONA 1/22 1B Chris Colabello IF Ivan De Jesus, Jr. - SIGNED WITH BOSTON 1/2 C Rene Garcia RHP Travis Hissong - SIGNED WITH KANSAS CITY (Independent American Association) 3/9[/b] OF Kirk Nieuwenhuis - SIGNED WITH SEATTLE 11/13 LHP Sean Nolin - SIGNED WITH COLORADO 2/19 IF Nick Noonan - SIGNED WITH OAKLAND 2/9 IF Gabriel Noriega - SIGNED BY BREWERS TO A 2018 MINOR LEAGUE CONTRACT UT Fidel Pena - SIGNED BY BREWERS TO A 2018 MINOR LEAGUE CONTRACT RHP Matt Ramsey - SIGNED WITH HOUSTON 12/8 RHP Rob Scahill - SIGNED WITH CHICAGO WHITE SOX 12/1 RHP Forrest Snow - SIGNED WITH TAMPA 1/11

Look for these just prior to the respective game times -- Colorado Springs Media Notes - Linked on the Sky Sox official blog Biloxi Media Notes - Linked on the Shuck Dynasty blog Carolina Media Notes - Linked on the Mudcats official blog Wisconsin Media Notes - Linked on the Rattler Radio blog *** STANDINGS: AAA - Pacific Coast League American Northern Division AA - Southern League South Division High-A - Carolina League Southern Division A - Midwest League Western Division Pioneer League North Division Arizona League Central Division Dominican Summer League San Pedro Division Dominican Summer League North Division NOTE: Divisional standings for the two DSL teams point to the same shared page link. NOTE #2: The Standings Links above will reflect second-half standings for Biloxi, Carolina, and Wisconsin. You can easily then click on "Overall Standings" once you've reached the initial link. *** Sortable individual stat pages: Colorado Springs Biloxi Carolina Wisconsin Helena Maryvale DSL Brewers DSL Brewers/Indians *** Weather.com: Colorado Springs, CO Biloxi, MS Myrtle Beach, SC Geneva, IL Helena, MT Maryvale, AZ Santo Domingo, DR

Follow Saturday's action as it happens with box score / game log links: Colorado Springs Biloxi Carolina Wisconsin Helena DSL Brewers DSL Brewers/Indians MiLB.com feature -- organizational scoreboard, Brewers

Saturday's Daily Menu: All times are Central Colorado Springs: RHP Angel Ventura at home vs. New Orleans (Marlins), 6:30 PM pre-game, 7:00 gametime Free Live Audio Link Dan Karcher, the longtime play-by-play voice of the Sky Sox is on Twitter @SkySoxKarch; joining him again this season is Dan Acheson (@Dan_Acheson) MiLB.TV -- for subscribers; all Colorado Springs games, home and away, will be available to watch via MiLB.TV's $49.99 season-long package ($12.99 to pay for a single month). The audio feed is from the home team. The video of each game is archived online, which is a nice feature. All MiLB.TV details available at the link. NOTE: Notice that on MiLB.TV's page, you can click on "Filter", then "Milwaukee Brewers", and you'll see just the Crew's organizational TV lineup. ********** Biloxi: RHP Aaron Wilkerson at home vs. Tennessee (Cubs), 6:20 PM pre-game, 6:35 gametime Free Live Audio Link Chris Harris is the play-by-play voice of the Shuckers. Follow Chris on Twitter @CHarris731. We'll be linking to his fantastic "Shuck Dynasty" blog. Erik Bremer (@Erik_Bremer) joins Chris often. All games, home and away, are scheduled to be radio broadcast. MiLB.TV - Eight of the ten Southern League teams telecast their home games, and Biloxi is among them. Only games in Chattanooga and Mobile won't be available. ********** Carolina: RHP Trey Supak at Myrtle Beach (Cubs), 5:50 PM pre-game, 6:05 gametime Free Live Audio Link We look forward to Mudcats audio with Greg Young (@gregyoungjr), especially after going without gameday audio for much of the Brewers' stay in Brevard County. MiLB.TV - Yes, Carolina home games will be on MiLB.TV, sweet. It appears three other Carolina League teams (Salem, Myrtle Beach, and Winston-Salem) broadcast as well. ********** Wisconsin: RHP Thomas Jankins at Kane County (Diamondbacks), 6:10 PM pre-game, 6:30 gametime Free Live Audio Link Chris Mehring is back to do his customary fantastic work as the Voice of the Rattlers. Follow him on Twitter @CMehring; we'll link to Chris' infamous blog often -- Rattler Radio. MiLB.TV - Eight of the 16 Midwest League teams telecast their home games, and Wisconsin, once again, is among them. We'll let you know when a road TV feed is available. In 2017, fifteen games will be broadcast on Spectrum Sports in Wisconsin, available on channel 32 and in HD on channel 1332. We'll keep you posted with our "DVR Alerts" days in advance. *** Helena: RHP Nelson Hernandez at home vs. Grand Junction (Rockies), 7:45 PM pre-game, 8:05 gametime Free Live Audio Link Garrett Greene (@Garrett_Greene) has your H-Crew coverage for 2017 *** Maryvale: Idle *** DSL Brewers: at home vs. the DSL Diamondbacks' #2 Squad, 9:30 AM DSL Brewers/Indians: at the DSL Dodgers' #2 Squad, 9:30 AM For each DSL contest, game data won't be available until later in the day We'll link to this Dominican Summer League Brewers' thread as part of the Daily Menu all season to assist you with your familiarity with these young men. You can also use that link to differentiate between Brewer and Indians' prospects on the co-op team.

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Getting word that RHP Milton Gomez has retired. Gomez missed all of 2016 (Tommy John surgery) and had yet to see the field in 2017. Technically he had been on Wisconsin's disabled list. Gomez was the Brewers' highest-bonus international signing in 2010 at $350,000 at age 16. Gomez began his pro career with two seasons in the Dominican Summer League, then two more in Maryvale, before beginning 2015 as a Timber Rattler, but was later dropped to Helena that summer. I strongly suggest you review the Brewers' section of this March 2011 Baseball America (Ben Badler) article discussing the NL Central's international signings for the prior year. Notice the last player mentioned, almost as a footnote.

With two outs, too --

AUDIO via Mickey Christine of Helena's staff: CF Tristen Lutz

Final: Grand Junction 3, Helena 0 Brewers Shut Out For First Time Only runs score in eighth inning on a walk, wild pitch and passed ball By Garrett Greene / Helena Brewers Just like the Wisconsin write-up, a low-scoring game does not mean an uneventful summary. Take a peek. *** Helena Independent Record game story: Additional details, quotes *** Helena Box Score Team RISP: 0-for-8. Helena Game Log

Final: New Orleans 6, Colorado Springs 4, ten innings Sky Sox Fall In Extras Rivera drives in two runs to lead offense By Robby Veronesi / Colorado Springs Sky Sox Yadiel Rivera's two-run single gave the Sox a 3-1 lead in the fourth inning Friday night. (Paat Kelly photo) *** Colorado Springs Box Score Lines for RHP's Paulo Espino and Tyler Cravy don't shine; CF Lewis Brinson, off on Thursday and didn't start Friday, pinch-hit in the 9th, entered on defense and committed his 6th error; Ivan De Jesus, Jr. reached base four times and his OBP is now .417... Colorado Springs Game Log As @BrewerProspect points out -- My goodness, Brett Phillips

AUDIO via the Sky Sox Soundcloud from Wednesday: Taylor Jungmann ("My best year professionally")

Final: Wisconsin 1, Kane County 0, ten innings Rattlers Beat Cougars Aguilar delivers an RBI single with two outs and Wisconsin holds on for the win By Chris Mehring / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Folks, this game had more drama and baserunners than you might think at first glance. Enjoy Chris' summary, please, which includes: Josh Pennington set a new single-game high for strikeouts in a game as he recorded nine over five scoreless innings. He allowed three hits and walked one, but was not around for the decision. *** Wisconsin Box Score Wondering what the Brewers could acquire for a package of Dubon / Pennington / Coca today? Such value... Wisconsin Game Log Kudos to the bottom of the order for kicking off the go-ahead two-out rally -- Wisconsin Top of the 10th Pitching Change: Junior Garcia replaces Tyler Mark. Joantgel Segovia called out on strikes. Demi Orimoloye lines out to center fielder Marcus Wilson. Jonathan Oquendo singles on a ground ball to left fielder Luis Silverio. Devin Hairston singles on a fly ball to left fielder Luis Silverio. Jonathan Oquendo to 2nd. Ryan Aguilar singles on a ground ball to left fielder Luis Silverio. Jonathan Oquendo scores. Devin Hairston to 2nd. Mario Feliciano lines out to right fielder Stephen Smith.

Interesting article on why Colorado Springs (the city, stadium, etc.) will be just fine economically with a Pioneer League team -- Sky Sox won’t do business as usual Bob Stephens, Colorado Springs Business Journal

VIDEO TWEET: As the Mudcats point out here, regarding the Erceg home run above, well, listen and watch *** VIDEO TWEETS via @BrewerProspect: Max McDowell 27th caught-stealing on the year (37%) Wuilder Rodriguez 5 K's in just 2 innings of work

From the Biloxi game summary -- Despite the loss, the Shuckers won't lose ground to first-place Mobile if the BayBears lose their game at Pensacola. The Shuckers will either remain 1.0 game out of first or fall to 2.0 games back with 23 games to play. Mobile did win, so the Shuckers are two games back. *** VIDEO TWEET via @BrewerProspect: Biloxi's Taylor Williams pumping gas

Things aren't going swimmingly in the hit column for the Shuckers, either (at least through five innings).

VIDEO TWEET: Failed to include this in Thursday's Link Report, so enjoy here -- Biloxi highlights from their 3-2, 11-inning win

Yes, read this post from our DSL thread if you haven't already .

Originally posted July 2nd -- A reminder this young man turned 17 on August 2nd. The Brewers placed Vassalotti into the DSL rotation immediately upon signing, no easing into things from the bullpen. After his six-inning, no-earned run outing Friday, Vassalotti's line in seven starts -- 26.2 IP, 17 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 1.69 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 6 BB, 22 K's *** Fan clubs. Bandwagons. Hype machines. Let them all commence for the 6'2, 180" RHP, sure to grow into that fine initial frame.

Biloxi Press Release -- Taylor Williams returns from the disabled list, Wendell Rijo transferred to Carolina Williams has 47 strikeouts in 38.1 innings pitched this season for the Shuckers Welcome back, Taylor, and the Mudcats really need a versatile infielder like Rijo at the moment, as catcher-turned-pitcher Parker Berberet had to play first base for the Mudcats Thursday.

Baseball Prospectus on Trent Clark, Isan Diaz and Corey Ray

Brewers Prospect Justin Bullock: Fending for Himself The latest Q&A from "The Monkey Nest" is with the 18-year-old Maryvale RHP, drafted in the 16th round out of a North Carolina high school.

Payton Henry's final game at Brent Brown Ballpark rained out Neil K. Warner, (Provo, UT) Daily Herald Includes photo and quotes from the Helena catcher...

Crew prospect Hiura continues to progress First-round Draft pick heats up, nears debut in field Carson Mason, MLB.com Includes video clip...