a 1.97 ERA and saving 36 games. He also struck out 63 batters in 59 innings of work. Following his outstanding 2002 season, Valentine was involved in a major trade that sent Keith Foulke, Mark Johnson, cash and himself to the Oakland Athletics for players to be named later and Billy Koch. The players to be named later ended up being Neal Cotts and minor leaguer Daylan Holt. Major leagues Pitching for the Sacramento River Cats, Valentine slumped to a 1-3 record and 4.82 ERA, and was traded to the Cincinnati Reds with minor leaguer Jeff Bruksch and Aaron Harang for José Guillén. In nine games with the Louisville Bats, he went 1-0 with a 0.79 ERA, prompting his promotion to the majors. Facing the Houston Astros on August 24, Valentine appeared in his first big league game, allowing one run in one inning of work. He appeared in two games in the majors in , posting an ERA of 18.00. Overall in the minors, he went 2-3 with a 4.10 ERA. was the first season in which Valentine had ever started a game professionally. He made 24 appearances for the Reds that year, making one start (which he lost) and posting a 2-3 record with a 4.22 ERA. In 30 minor league appearances (nine starts), all with the Bats, he went 5-5 with a 5.01 ERA. Valentine had a poor year in . In 16 major league appearances with the Reds, he went 0-1 with an 8.16 ERA. In 49 relief appearances with the Bats, he went 0-7 with a 4.70 ERA. Combined, he went 0-8 with a 4.22 ERA. He was granted free agency in December. Signed by the Houston Astros, Valentine made 20 appearances with their Triple-A affiliate, the Round Rock Express. With them, he went 1-2 with a 4.70 ERA. In June, he was released, and in early July he was picked up by the Milwaukee Brewers. In 22 games with their Double-A affiliate the Huntsville Stars, he went 2-0 with a 2.97 ERA, saving 13 games. Combined, he went 3-2 with a 3.84 ERA in 61 innings that season. Despite pitching well during the second half of the season, Valentine was granted free agency by the Brewers. He was not picked up by any major league baseball team, so he went to pitch in Japan with the Chunichi Dragons (he never actually pitched for them;