Javier

Valentin

Valentin has complained of stiffness, especially when swinging left-handed. He’s been held out of workout the last couple days.

Valentin is day-to-day.

Valentin is 6-for-12 with four home runs of Cubs’ starter Greg Maddux. If there is ever a day to use Valentin this is it.

The Reds were down 4-1 with six outs left in the game, but Scott Hatteberg hit a two-run homer off reliever Brandon Lyon in the eighth to make it 4-3. After an Austin Kearns pinch-hit single with one out, Valentin delivered a blast to right to give the Reds the win. David Weathers picked up the win in relief as the club moved to 28-22 on the season.

The Reds won 11-8 thanks to Valentin’s homer.

Valentin, who was eligible for arbitration, hit .233/.293/.381 as Jason LaRue’s backup last season. He’ll have the same role in 2005.

A nice move by the Rays, assuming that they do in fact carry Valentin as their backup catcher. Valentin hasn’t had a good spring offensively, but there’s little doubt that he will hit and he’s not a bad defender. He’s a decent $1 pick if he does get the job.

Adam Dunn and Sean Casey singled off de la Rosa with one out in the 10th to set up Valentin’s line drive over a drawn-in Brady Clark in center field. Kent Mercker picked up the win in relief.

Sean Casey is likely done for the year, meaning Adam Dunn will get most of the starts at first, while Valentin will take the rest. Valentin is hitting .295 with 13 homers and 46 RBI.

The homer was a solo shot. He also drove in runs with a sac fly and the walk. Valentin has value in all formats right now.