Jim Goulart

AUDIO via the Rattler Radio Blog Thurs. 12/8 - Chris & Kyle on a wide variety of topics, including post-Rule 5 discussion

AUDIO via the Rattler Radio Blog Thurs. 12/8 - Chris & Kyle on a wide variety of topics, including post-Rule 5 discussion

(Also posted on our Minor League Forum, but because of the big league camp invite, also posted here for possible discussion.) Look for the Brewers to announce this signing shortly, especially since it includes an invitation to big league camp for spring training. Since the player himself first made the news public, a physical may be pending, so it may be a bit. First caught by Jeremy Donovan, a Sports Director out of Binghamton, NY -- tweet LHP Andrew Barbosa (Baseball Reference) recently turned 29, but has only been in the pro ranks for the past five seasons. As his stat page shows, he's been primarily a starting pitcher. When Barbosa signed with the Mets organization as a minor league free agent prior to the 2016 season, actually almost a year ago exactly, the site Metsminors.net posted this, which seems like a good stating point, includes a link to a video interview at the tail end, which we've also included at the end of this post. Who Is Andrew Barbosa? So Barbosa's physical frame (6'8", 230) and baseball career path are each unique, as you just read at the link. The author of that post, Michael Mayer, followed up on Twitter after the Brewers news became known. LHP Andrew Barbosa has signed with the Brewers. He had a 1.51 ERA in 71.2 innings over 4 levels in the Mets minor leagues in 2016. In a follow-up post on Metsminors.net here, Mayer continues: Barbosa started the season off with a solid five inning start in Triple-A Las Vegas before making six starts in Double-A Binghamton. A lat injury knocked him out of action for two months. In July and August he made eight appearances between the GCL Mets and the St. Lucie Mets. His final two starts of the season came with St. Lucie and Binghamton, in which he combined to pitch 15 innings of one-hit ball with 16 strikeouts. That one AAA start to begin 2016 is the only career appearance by Barbosa, a Puerto Rico native, above AA. VIDEO from his most recent appearance, a sweet strikeout - Now, the start prior to that one was this one, seven no-hit innings, so be sure to read this for quotes and more: Barbosa nearly spotless in St. Lucie shutout Mets southpaw strikes out season-high 11 over seven no-hit innings By Robert Emrich / MiLB.com http://www.milb.com/assets/images/5/8/6/198480586/cuts/barbosa640_k33xccop_e6zd2byn.jpg While the Mets could have added Barbosa to their 40-man roster after 2016, they chose not to do so, and if they tried to entice him back with a new minor league deal, it's unclear. So the Brewers have stepped up with a big league camp invite, nice to see. Along with 40-man roster members Josh Hader and Brent Suter, Barbosa is the only other southpaw announced for camp thus far. Most likely Barbosa will serve as a starter / swingman in Colorado Springs, but heck, the tall gentleman is already used to "elevation".

Look for the Brewers to announce this signing shortly, especially since it includes an invitation to big league camp for spring training. Since the player himself first made the news public, a physical may be pending, so it may be a bit. First caught by Jeremy Donovan, a Sports Director out of Binghamton, NY -- tweet LHP Andrew Barbosa (Baseball Reference) recently turned 29, but has only been in the pro ranks for the past five seasons. As his stat page shows, he's been primarily a starting pitcher. When Barbosa signed with the Mets organization as a minor league free agent prior to the 2016 season, actually almost a year ago exactly, the site Metsminors.net posted this, which seems like a good stating point, includes a link to a video interview at the tail end, which we've also included at the end of this post. Who Is Andrew Barbosa? So Barbosa's physical frame (6'8", 230) and baseball career path are each unique, as you just read at the link. The author of that post, Michael Mayer, followed up on Twitter after the Brewers news became known. LHP Andrew Barbosa has signed with the Brewers. He had a 1.51 ERA in 71.2 innings over 4 levels in the Mets minor leagues in 2016. In a follow-up post on Metsminors.net here, Mayer continues: Barbosa started the season off with a solid five inning start in Triple-A Las Vegas before making six starts in Double-A Binghamton. A lat injury knocked him out of action for two months. In July and August he made eight appearances between the GCL Mets and the St. Lucie Mets. His final two starts of the season came with St. Lucie and Binghamton, in which he combined to pitch 15 innings of one-hit ball with 16 strikeouts. That one AAA start to begin 2016 is the only career appearance by Barbosa, a Puerto Rico native, above AA. VIDEO from his most recent appearance, a sweet strikeout - Now, the start prior to that one was this one, seven no-hit innings, so be sure to read this for quotes and more: Barbosa nearly spotless in St. Lucie shutout Mets southpaw strikes out season-high 11 over seven no-hit innings By Robert Emrich / MiLB.com http://www.milb.com/assets/images/5/8/6/198480586/cuts/barbosa640_k33xccop_e6zd2byn.jpg While the Mets could have added Barbosa to their 40-man roster after 2016, they chose not to do so, and if they tried to entice him back with a new minor league deal, it's unclear. So the Brewers have stepped up with a big league camp invite, nice to see. Along with 40-man roster members Josh Hader and Brent Suter, Barbosa is the only other southpaw announced for camp thus far. Most likely Barbosa will serve as a starter / swingman in Colorado Springs, but heck, the tall gentleman is already used to "elevation". NOTE: This was posted here in our minor league transaction thread, but because of the big league camp invite, we'll duplicate this post over on the Major League side, if you wish to comment, please go to that thread and reply there, thanks.

Wikipedia: The 2003 Detroit Tigers lost more games than any other team in American League history and came within one loss of tying the 1962 New York Mets for the most losses in modern major league history. The team's record was 43-119, giving them a .265 winning percentage, and broke the Philadelphia Athletics' 1916 American League record of 117 losses. They were outscored by 337 runs over the course of the season (928 to 591) and finished 47 games behind the Minnesota Twins. Blame for the dismal season was shared by both the pitching staff, which had an ERA of 5.30, and the batters, who finished with a team batting average of .240—19 points below the American League's .259 batting average.

AUDIO via The Ringer MLB Show with Ben Lindbergh: Eric Thames (go to the 28:40 minute mark) Hat tip to Adam Rygg (@BrewerNation)

Rubio (stats) was taken in the minor league phase by the Tigers, so he won't be back at all, they're taking a flyer on a potential power bat that hasn't impressed since Maryvale in 2013. Rubio, though just 22, is entering his final season before minor league free agency. The Brewers could protect up to 38 players from the minor league phase, so ten players (or more) from this list were eligible to be plucked away like Rubio was.

The Padres had big success with another low-A pitcher, Luis Perdomo, in last year's Rule 5. Diaz is likely a goner...

AUDIO via Brewers.com: Adam McCalvy (Taped on the eve of the winter meetings, the full ten-minute conversation is still relevant, so linked here)

Not saying it was the overriding factor, but Colorado Springs is not enticing to retaining or bringing in quality AAA pitching depth. So much for the Matt Arnold Asst. GM connection on this one.

Via Google Translate: Anzoátegui Caribes manager Omar López reported that he is in talks with the Milwaukee Brewers to extend Orlando Arcia's permit to the Eastern team. The shortstop has permission from his organization until December 15, but "The Tribe" hopes to do what is necessary to have the big leaguer for a longer time. Arcia has been a key player in the roster of those led by Omar López, who are in the fifth place in the ranking of the Venezuelan Professional Baseball League. In the current season Arcia is batting .234, with seven runs scored and nine RBI in 12 games.

Wednesday - Puerto Rico box: You'll find Martin Maldonado (1-for-4, K) at first base, Yadiel Rivera (0-for-4, RBI, two K's, SB, E) at third base, and an Omar Garcia cameo *** Venezuela box: Catcher Manny Pina 2-for-4 (run), Hernan Perez, playing third base and LF (1st winter OF appearance), 1-for-3, double, BB, R *** Venezuela box: SS Orlando Arcia 1-for-4, BB, three runs scored, the one hit was a two-run HR to center field *** Venezuela box: SS Gabriel Noriega 0-for-4, K, E

AUDIO via WSSP 105.7 FM Tue. 12/6: Adam McCalvy

Puerto Rico box: BASERUNNING CS: Silva (1, 3rd base by Rodriguez, D/Maldonado). PO: Hannemann (1st base by Maldonado). Nice work by the Brewers catcher, who was 2-for-4 at the plate. SS Yadiel Rivera was 0-for-3 with a caught stealing. The teammates were on the losing end of a 3-2 score. *** Venezuela box: SS Gabriel Noriega 2-for-3 *** Young infielder Wendell Rijo made a brief Dominican appearance, but only on defense

AUDIO via Marcus Pfaff Tue. 12/6: Kyle Lobner (@BrewFrostyMug) -- go to the 15-minute mark

Goodbye, Green Hornet. http://www.thewrap.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Van-Williams.jpg

Via the Boston Globe's Alex Speier -- Almost forgot to mention... Josh Pennington had undergone surgery to remove a bone chip, but should be healthy for spring training w/MIL.

Josh Pennington quotes in this article: “I woke up, and I saw I had six missed calls from a buddy on the Red Sox,” Pennington, 21, said by telephone Tuesday afternoon. “I scrolled down (on my phone) more and saw messages from my agent saying I was traded to Milwaukee. At that point I jumped out of bed. It was one hell of a wake up call.” More at the link...

Some quotes I hadn't seen elsewhere here, including whether Pennington could begin 2017 with the Timber Rattlers -- Brewers acquire Boston's Dubon, Pennington Milwaukee gets No. 12, No. 22 Red Sox prospects in Thornburg deal By Sam Dykstra / MiLB.com

VIDEO: MLBPipeline.com's Jim Callis talks about Mauricio Dubon and Josh Pennington who the Brewers acquired from the Red Sox for Tyler Thornburg

@BrewerNation located this one -- Travis Shaw: How Boston Red Sox 3B rose from a ninth-round draft pick to Mayor of Ding Dong City By Christopher Smith, masslive.com

Some Undue Optimism for Mauricio Dubon by Carson Cistulli, FanGraphs Intriguing...

Frosty Microbrews: Versatility, Approach Contribute to Wes Wilson's Value By Kyle Lobner / Wisconsin Timber Rattlers