The Cincinnati Reds agreed to a one-year contract with catcher Javier Valentin, thus avoiding salary arbitration. Valentin, who will be used primarily as Jason LaRue's backup, had a career year in 2005. The 30-year-old backstop batted .281 with 14 homers and 50 RBI, all personal high's. A seven-year veteran out of Manati, Puerto Rico, Valentin has a career average of .241 with 31 home runs and 131 RBI while playing with Minnesota, Tampa Bay and Cincinnati.