The Forgotten Brewers Series: Part II

Coming in at No. 10, with 156 Brewers games started, is journeyman Jaime Navarro. Navarro pitched for Milwaukee from 1989-1994 and in 2000. During his career with the Brewers, he had a record of 62-64, a 4.44 ERA and 1.408 WHIP. He compiled a 6.3 WAR (Baseball Reference)/ 15.1 (Fangraphs). His best year with Milwaukee was 1992 when he went 17-11 with a 3.33 ERA and 1.171 WHIP. Milwaukee posted one of its best records of all time that year, 92-70.

Things went downhill quickly for Navarro after his stellar 1992 campaign. He posted losing records, 11-12 and 4-9, and saw his ERA and WHIP balloon to 5.33/6.62 and 1.562/1.673 in 1993 and 1994. He had the dubious distinction of leading the AL in earned runs allowed in 1993 with 127 (in 214.1 innings pitched).

Milwaukee granted Navarro free agency in April of 1995 and he signed with the Chicago Cubs a few days later. He had two decent years (winning records, ERA under 4) with the Cubs before signing with the Chicago White Sox following the 1996 season. Things did not go well for Navarro while with the Sox as he again led the AL in earned runs allowed in 1997 and posted three consecutive losing records. He also led the league in wild pitches in 1997 and 1998.

Things were so bad for Navarro following the 1998 season, he worked on a sidearm delivery with his father, Julio Navarro. A former big league pitcher, Julio played for the Los Angeles Angels, Detroit and Atlanta during his career.  Despite his attempt to alter his throwing motion, Navarro had another disappointing season in 1999.

Navarro’s hard times did not deter the Brewers from trading for him in 2000, however.  Navarro and pitcher John Snyder were traded to Milwaukee for Cal Eldred and Jose Valentin in what would later be remembered as one of the worst Brewer trades of all-time. Navarro went 0-5 with a 12.54 ERA in 18.1 innings pitched before the Brewers released him. Navarro signed with the Rockies, Indians, Blue Jays, Cardinals and Reds over the next three years but never made it back to the big leagues on a full time basis. He appeared in seven games for Cleveland in 2000. Navarro finished his playing career in Mexico and Italy, playing three seasons (2004-2006) for BBC Grosseto before his retirement.

As evidenced by the end of his playing days, Navarro wasn't one to move on and pursue interests outside of baseball. In 2008, Navarro became the pitching coach for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers. Navarro moved to Single-A ball with High Desert in 2009 and in 2010 he served as the pitching coach for the Tacoma Rainiers, the Triple-A affiliate of the Mariners. The Rainiers won the Pacific Coast League in 2010. 

The right hander from Bayamon, Puerto Rico, was born March 27, 1968 and attended Miami-Dade College before being drafted by the Brewers in the third round of the 1987 draft. The oddest little tidbit I could find about Jaime Navarro was that he threw three straight complete games against the Yankees from 1990-91 while with Milwaukee. A feat matched by Felix Hernandez this season. 

Jaime Navarro, you are no longer forgotten.