Valera signed with the New York Mets as an amateur free agent on March 6, 1986.
On April 12, 1992, the Mets traded Valera and a player to be named later, Julian Vasquez, to the California Angels in exchange for shortstop Dick Schofield.
1992 would be Valera's longest season pitching in 30 games (28 starts) and throwing 188 innings with a 3.73 ERA. In 1993, Valera appeared in just 19 games (5 starts) with a 6.62 ERA and required elbow surgery. He spent the 1994 and 1995 seasons pitching in the Angels' farm system.

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