Editing Fernando Valenzuela (section)

== Playing career ==

===Early career in Mexico===
In 1977, Valenzuela began his professional baseball career, signing with the [[Mayos de Navojoa]] of the [[Mexican Pacific League]]. A year later, he was sent to the [[Guanajuato Tuzos]] of the [[Mexican Central League]], posting a 5–6 [[win–loss record (pitching)|win–loss record]] with a 2.23 [[earned run average]] (ERA). The following year, the Mexican Central League was absorbed into the expanded [[Mexican League]], automatically elevating then 18-year-old Valenzuela to the [[Triple-A (baseball)|Triple-A level]]. Pitching for the [[Leones de Yucatán]] that year, Valenzuela went 10–12 with a 2.49 ERA and 141 [[strikeout]]s.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fernando Valenzuela: 2016 CALIFORNIA SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE|publisher=California Sports Hall of Fame|url=http://californiasportshalloffame.org/inductees/fernando-valenzuela/|access-date=October 23, 2024}}</ref>

A number of [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB) teams [[scout (sport)|scouted]] Valenzuela during this time. [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] owner [[Walter O'Malley]], conscious of the large Latino population in Los Angeles, had wanted a Mexican ace pitcher for some time.<ref name=":8">{{Cite news |last=Miller |first=Scott |date=October 23, 2024 |title=Fernandomania Wasn't a Fairy Tale. It Was Better Than That. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/23/style/fernando-valenzuela-fernandomania.html |access-date=October 24, 2024 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> Even so, the Dodgers found Valenzuela by accident. They sent scout [[Mike Brito]] to a game in Mexico to evaluate a shortstop named Ali Uscanga. Valenzuela threw three balls to Uscanga to fall behind in the count and then threw three straight strikes for the strikeout. Brito said later that at that point, he "forgot all about the shortstop".<ref name=Gonzalez>{{cite web|last1=Gonzalez|first1=Alden|title=Valenzuela inducted into Caribbean Hall of Fame|url=http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/41377532/fernando-valenzuela-inducted-into-caribbean-hall-of-fame|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304001040/http://m.dodgers.mlb.com/news/article/41377532/fernando-valenzuela-inducted-into-caribbean-hall-of-fame|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 4, 2016|work=[[MLB.com]]|access-date=April 15, 2015|date=February 3, 2013}}</ref> The Dodgers bought out Valenzuela's Liga contract on July 6, 1979, for $120,000 (about $521,158 in 2024), of which $20,000 went to Valenzuela and $100,000 went to the team.<ref name="findarticles1" /><ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Weisman |first=Jon |date=October 22, 2024 |title=Brothers in Arms excerpt: Fernando Valenzuela |url=https://www.dodgerthoughts.com/2024/10/22/brothers-in-arms-excerpt-fernando-valenzuela/ |access-date=October 24, 2024 |website=Dodger Thoughts |language=en-US}}</ref> The [[New York Yankees]] subsequently offered $150,000, but the Leones honored their original deal, and Valenzuela became a Dodger.<ref name=":10" />

=== Move to the Los Angeles Dodgers organization ===
After acquiring Valenzuela in the summer of 1979, the Dodgers assigned him to the [[Lodi Dodgers]] of the [[High-A]] California League, where he posted a 1–2 record and a 1.13 [[earned run average]] (ERA) in limited action.<ref name=BRMinors>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=valenz002fer Fernando Valenzuela Minor League Statistics & History]. [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Retrieved May 17, 2015.</ref> Brito worried that Valenzuela did not throw with enough velocity and felt that he needed to develop an [[off-speed pitch]], so the Dodgers had their pitcher [[Bobby Castillo]] teach him to throw the [[screwball]] before the 1980 season.<ref name=Crowe>Crowe, Jerry. [https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-xpm-2011-mar-27-la-sp-crowe-20110328-story.html A screwball chain of events led the Dodgers to Fernando Valenzuela]. [[Los Angeles Times]]. March 27, 2011.</ref> In 1980 Valenzuela was promoted to the [[Double-A (baseball)|Double-A]] [[San Antonio Dodgers]], where he led the [[Texas League]] with 162 strikeouts and finished the season with a 13–9 win-loss record and a 3.10 ERA.<ref name=TL1980>[https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/leader.cgi?type=pitch&id=04918113 1980 Texas League pitching leaders]. [[Baseball-Reference.com]]. Retrieved May 17, 2015.</ref>

Valenzuela was called up to the major leagues in September 1980, serving as a reliever in the last month of the season.<ref name=toribio_04162021/> In his first game on September 15 against [[Atlanta Braves|Atlanta]], his [[catcher]] was [[Mike Scioscia]], who spoke some Spanish; Valenzuela spoke little English.<ref name=":10" /> Valenzuela's excellent performances as a reliever (17{{fraction|2|3}} scoreless [[inning]]s of [[relief pitcher|relief]] in 10 games) helped the Dodgers tie the [[Houston Astros]] for the [[NL West]] division lead. He earned two wins and a [[save (baseball)|save]]. However, the Dodgers then lost a one-game tiebreaker—and thus, the division championship—to the Astros.<ref name=toribio_04162021>{{Cite web|first=Juan|last=Toribio|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/fernando-valenzuela-dominant-as-reliever-in-debut-season|title=Even pre-mania, Fernando was 'amazing'|date=April 16, 2021|website=MLB.com}}</ref>

=== "Fernandomania" ===
[[File:Fernando Valenzuela in bullpen.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Valenzuela  pitching for the [[Los Angeles Dodgers]] in 1981]]
Following his successful stint as a reliever in 1980, Valenzuela transitioned to a full-time starter role in his 1981 rookie season. He was unexpectedly named the Dodgers' [[Opening Day]] starter as a rookie after [[Jerry Reuss]] was injured 24 hours before his scheduled start, and [[Burt Hooton]] was not ready to fill in.<ref name="brown" /> At first, Valenzuela did not think manager [[Tommy Lasorda]] was serious.<ref name=":2">{{cite news |last=Guzman |first=Ed |date=October 22, 2024 |title=Dodgers star Fernando Valenzuela, who sparked Fernandomania, dies |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/story/2024-10-22/dodgers-fernando-valenzuela-fernandomania-obit |url-access=limited |access-date=October 22, 2024 |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]}}</ref> However, he filled in and [[Shutout (baseball)|shut out]] the [[Houston Astros]] 2–0.<ref name=brown>{{cite news|last=Brown |first=Daniel |title=Jeremy Lin: Fernando Valenzuela understands Lin-Sanity first hand |date=February 16, 2012 |newspaper=San Jose Mercury News |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_19982777 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427035002/http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_19982777 |archive-date=April 27, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was the first rookie to start Opening Day for the Dodgers.<ref name=":7" />

Valenzuela enjoyed one of the hottest starts to a career in MLB history. He began the season 8–0 with seven [[complete game]]s, five [[shutout (baseball)|shutouts]] and an ERA of 0.50.<ref name="jaffe_08142023">{{cite web|first=Jay|last=Jaffe|title=The Dodgers Finally Call Fernando Valenzuela's Number|date=August 14, 2023|work=FanGraphs|url=https://blogs.fangraphs.com/the-dodgers-finally-call-fernando-valenzuelas-number/|access-date=October 23, 2024}}</ref> In addition to his dominance on the mound, Valenzuela's unusual and flamboyant pitching motion—including a glance skyward at the apex of each wind-up—drew attention of its own.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/alex_belth/08/04/five.phenoms/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060830113816/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/alex_belth/08/04/five.phenoms/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 30, 2006|title=SI.com – Writers – Alex Belth: The five true pitching phenoms – Tuesday August 8, 2006 11:33AM|publisher=Sportsillustrated.cnn.com|date= August 4, 2006|access-date=July 25, 2009}}</ref> His most prominent and effective pitch was the screwball,<ref name=":11">{{cite news|first=Bruce|last=Schoenfeld|title=The Mystery of the Vanishing Screwball|date=July 10, 2014|work=The New York Times Magazine|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/13/magazine/the-mystery-of-the-vanishing-screwball.html|access-date=October 23, 2024}}</ref> which had not been a popular pitch for decades.<ref>{{cite news|first=Paul|last=Gutierrez|title=Remembering Fernando Valenzuela and Fernandomania|date=October 23, 2024|work=ESPN|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/mlb/story/_/id/38168721/fernandomania-los-angeles-dodgers-fernando-valenzuela|access-date=October 23, 2024}}</ref>

An instant media icon, Valenzuela drew large crowds from Los Angeles' Latino community every time he pitched, and his rookie 1981 Topps and Fleer [[baseball card]]s were in high demand. The craze surrounding Valenzuela came to be known as "Fernandomania".<ref name="wilson" /> The Dodgers' Spanish radio broadcast ratings on [[KTNQ]] jumped from 3.4 to 8.6.<ref name=":2"/> His starts drew large crowds in every city.<ref name="jaffe_08142023" /> During his warm-up routine at Dodger Stadium, the PA system would play [[ABBA]]'s 1976 hit song "[[Fernando (song)|Fernando]]". He became the first player to win the [[Major League Baseball Rookie of the Year Award|Rookie of the Year Award]] and the [[Cy Young Award]] in the same season, and finished fifth in NL MVP voting. He was also the first rookie to lead the NL in strikeouts. The Dodgers won the [[1981 World Series|World Series that season]].<ref name="brown" />

[[File:President Ronald Reagan shaking hands with Fernando Valenzuela and Antonio DeMarco with Leonore Annenberg in the background (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|upright|In 1981, President [[Ronald Reagan]] invited Valenzuela to the [[White House]] for a state luncheon with Mexican president [[José López Portillo]].<ref name=":8" />]]
Valenzuela was less dominant after the [[1981 Major League Baseball strike|1981 player strike]] wiped out the middle third of the season, but the left-hander still finished with a 13–7 record and a 2.48 ERA. He led the majors in shutouts (8) and strikeouts (180), and led the NL in complete games (11) and innings pitched (192.1). He was also second in the NL in wins (13). He demonstrated his unusually good batting (for a pitcher) by batting .250 and striking out just nine times in 64 at-bats.<ref name="br" /> He became the first Dodgers pitcher to win the NL [[Silver Slugger Award]].<ref name="almanac">{{cite web |title=MLB STATS FOR FERNANDO VALENZUELA |url=https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/player.php?p=valenfe01 |access-date=October 23, 2024 |work=Baseball Almanac}}</ref>

In [[1981 National League Division Series#Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Houston Astros|the NL West Division Series]] against the [[Houston Astros]], Valenzuela became the youngest pitcher to start the first game of any postseason series.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2009Oct15/0,4670,BBNNLCS,00.html|work=Fox News|agency=AP|title=Phillies lead Dodgers 5–4 after 6|date=May 16, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101119095220/http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2009Oct15/0,4670,BBNNLCS,00.html|archive-date=November 19, 2010}}</ref> He also threw a 147-pitch{{Efn|Various outlets have reported differing pitch counts, although it is generally accepted that Valenzuela threw over 145 pitches.<ref name=":9"/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Duarte |first=Michael |date=October 23, 2024 |title=Fernando Valenzuela's remarkable rookie season with the Dodgers in 1981 will live on forever |url=https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/sports/fernando-valenzuelas-remarkable-rookie-season-with-the-dodgers-in-1981-will-live-on-forever/3542160/ |access-date=October 24, 2024 |website=NBC Los Angeles |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="turbow_10262017" /><ref name=":14" /> A display at Dodger Stadium records Valenzuela's pitch count at 147.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Los Angeles Dodgers (Spanish) |date=2021-04-09 |title=A 40 años de la Fernandomanía. |url=https://x.com/LosDodgers/status/1380590918789701638 |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=Twitter}}</ref> However, a Spanish-language article on the Dodgers website says Valenzuela threw 146 pitches,<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Alonso |first1=Nathalie |last2=Venn |first2=David |date=2021-04-09 |title=Hace 40 años, empezó la Fernandomanía |url=https://www.mlb.com/es/dodgers/news/un-dia-como-hoy-nacio-la-fernandomania |access-date=2024-11-01 |website=MLB.com |language=es}}</ref> and an English-language article on the same website says 147 pitches.<ref name=":17" />}} complete game in a game 3 win over the [[New York Yankees]] in the World Series.<ref name=":9"/> In total, he went 3–1 in the postseason with a 2.21 ERA in {{frac|40|2|3}} innings,<ref>{{cite news|title=Corey Seager can make history for Dodgers this postseason|date=February 25, 2015|work=Fox Sports|url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/corey-seager-can-make-history-for-dodgers-this-postseason|access-date=October 23, 2024}}</ref> and he helped the Dodgers win their first World Series since [[1965 World Series|1965]].<ref name="odowd_04112021">{{cite news|first1=Peter|last1=O'Dowd|first2=Serena|last2=McMahon|title='Fernandomania' 40 years later: How Fernando Valenzuela captivated baseball fans for decades|date=April 11, 2021|work=WBUR|url=https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2021/04/16/fernando-valenzuela-baseball|access-date=October 23, 2024}}</ref>

Valenzuela achieved this success knowing little English at the time. Scioscia gave some of the credit to Lasorda, who had learned Spanish during his time in the Caribbean [[Winter league baseball|winter leagues]], and "gave him all instructions in Spanish."<ref name=martinez_09192012>{{cite news|first=Hiram|last=Martinez|title=An edge: Spanish-speaking managers|date=September 19, 2012|work=ESPN|url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/page/OneNation-MLB120919/major-league-managers-speak-spanish-bring-competitive-edge-game|access-date=October 23, 2024}}</ref> Scioscia also "learned Spanish just so he could communicate with Fernando", according to Lasorda.<ref name="oats_03141985" /> In 1981, the manager strictly [[Platoon system|platooned]] Scioscia and [[Steve Yeager]] at catcher, with Yeager seeing limited playing time with the Dodgers facing only 14 left-handers during the season.<ref name=turbow_10262017>{{cite news|first=Jason|last=Turbow|title=The day Fernando Valenzuela threw 146 pitches in a complete-game victory to rescue the Dodgers in the 1981 World Series|date=October 26, 2017|work=The Athletic|url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/138584/2017/10/26/the-day-fernando-valenzuela-threw-146-pitches-in-a-complete-game-victory-to-rescue-the-dodgers-in-the-1981-world-series/|url-access=subscription|access-date=October 23, 2024}}</ref>  In game 3 of the World Series, Valenzuela was struggling when Lasorda substituted Scioscia, with whom the pitcher was more familiar, in place of Yeager, after Yankees left-hander [[Dave Righetti]] had exited the game.<ref name=turbow_10262017/><ref name=oats_03141985>{{cite news|first=Bob|last=Oats|title=Take It From the Grapevine: When Mike Scioscia Talks Now in Any Language, the Dodgers Listen : Time to Catch a Rising Star|date=March 14, 1985|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-03-14-sp-26694-story.html|access-date=October 23, 2024}}</ref> Lasorda credited Scioscia with steadying Valenzuela.<ref name=oats_03141985/>

=== "El Toro" ===
[[File:Fernando Valenzuela pitching, 1986.jpg|left|thumb|Valenzuela was named to six consecutive [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|MLB All-Star Games]].]]
Following his debut, Valenzuela, nicknamed {{lang|es|El Toro}} (the Bull) by fans, settled down and established himself as a workhorse starter and one of the league's best pitchers.<ref name=wilson>{{cite web|first=Vic|last=Wilson|title=Fernandomania|publisher=Society for American Baseball Research|url=https://sabr.org/journal/article/fernandomania/|access-date=October 23, 2024}}</ref> From 1981 to 1986, Valenzuela was named an [[Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star]] six straight times<ref name=cromwell/> and recorded an ERA of 3.14 or below in five of these years. He also recorded top-five [[Cy Young Award]] finishes in 1981, 1982, 1985, and 1986.<ref name="br" />

Valenzuela repeatedly commanded record-setting salaries. Prior to the [[1983 Los Angeles Dodgers season|1983 season]], Valenzuela became the first player to be awarded a $1,000,000 salary in [[Major League Baseball transactions#Free agency and salary arbitration|arbitration]] (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|1|1982|r=2}}&nbsp;million in {{Inflation/year|US}}), with his drawing power cited as part of the pitch.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Valenzuela Granted $1 Million |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/02/20/sports/valenzuela-granted-1-million.html |access-date=October 13, 2021 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=February 20, 1983}}</ref> Before the [[1986 Los Angeles Dodgers season|1986 season]], he signed a contract worth $5.5&nbsp;million over three years (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|5.5|1986|r=2}}&nbsp;million in {{Inflation/year|US}}), then the wealthiest contract for a pitcher in baseball history. His annual average salary of $1,833,333 and 1988 salary of $2.05&nbsp;million (equivalent to ${{Inflation|US|2.05|1988|r=2}}&nbsp;million in {{Inflation/year|US}}) also both set records for a pitcher.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |last1=Chass |first1=Murray |title=Valenzuela Gets $5.5 Million |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/02/16/sports/valenzuela-gets-5.5-million.html |access-date=October 13, 2021 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=February 16, 1986}}</ref>

In 1986, Valenzuela finished 21–11 with a 3.14 ERA and led the league in wins, complete games and innings pitched. He lost a narrow vote for the 1986 NL Cy Young Award to the Astros' [[Mike Scott (baseball)|Mike Scott]].<ref name=Awards86>{{cite web|title=1986 Awards voting|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1986.shtml|website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]}}</ref> He also won the [[Gold Glove Award|Gold Glove]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gold Glove Award Winners {{!}} History |url=https://www.mlb.com/awards/gold-glove |access-date=October 24, 2024 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref> In the [[1986 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1986 All-Star Game]], Valenzuela made history by striking out five consecutive [[American League]] batters, tying a record set by fellow left-handed screwballer [[Carl Hubbell]] in the 1934 contest.<ref name=Hubbell>{{cite news|last1=Friend|first1=Tom|title=Hubbell: My record didn't mean much: Valenzuela's All-Star strikeout effort doesn't mean much, either, he believes|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-07-17-sp-21369-story.html|access-date=April 16, 2015|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=July 17, 1986}}</ref>

Valenzuela's performance declined in [[1987 Los Angeles Dodgers season|1987]] with a 14–14 win–loss record and 3.98 ERA.<ref name=walker_05191989/> In [[1988 Los Angeles Dodgers season|1988]], a year in which the Dodgers won [[1988 World Series|the World Series]], he was placed on the [[disabled list]] for the first time in his career due to left shoulder problems.<ref name=walker_05191989>{{cite news|first=Ben|last=Walker|title=Fernandomania turned to pain worry|date=May 19, 1989|newspaper=Daily Press|page=B-4|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-press/157721020/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=October 24, 2024}}</ref> He had pitched 255 games without missing a start.<ref name=cromwell/> Valenzuela was out for two months,<ref name=LNS/> before making a cameo appearance with a three-inning start and a four-inning relief stint.<ref name=riggs_03071989>{{cite news|first=Tom|last=Riggs|title=Valenzuela Happy Despite Poor Show|date=March 7, 1989|newspaper=Indian River Press Journal|page=B1|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/indian-river-press-journal/157720866/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=October 24, 2024}}</ref> He finished the season 5–8 with a 4.24 ERA,<ref name=walker_05191989/> before being left off the playoff roster and getting needed rest.<ref name=":2"/><ref name=riggs_03071989/> Although the Dodgers awarded him a second [[World Series ring]], he refused to wear it, explaining that "I didn't do anything."<ref name=":7" />

He improved slightly in [[1989 Los Angeles Dodgers season|1989]] and went 10–13.<ref name=LNS/> However, commentators noted "an obvious loss of velocity" following his 1988 shoulder injury.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |last=Newhan |first=Ross |date=April 9, 1990 |title=Baseball '90 Preview: One Pitch from Stardom |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-04-09-ss-992-story.html |access-date=October 24, 2024 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> In the off-season, he signed a one-year, $2 million contract for 1990.<ref name=":12" /> In [[1990 Los Angeles Dodgers season|1990]], he posted a 13–13 record and his then-career worst 4.59 ERA.<ref name=":9" /> He had one last great moment on June 29, 1990, when he threw a 6–0 [[no-hitter]] against the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] just hours after the [[Oakland Athletics]]' [[Dave Stewart (baseball)|Dave Stewart]] had thrown one against the [[Toronto Blue Jays]].<ref name="cromwell" /> According to Lasorda, Valenzuela predicted to some of his teammates, "That's great, now maybe we'll see another no-hitter".<ref name="plaschke_06301990" /> (Scioscia recalled that Valenzuela's words were "You saw [a no-hitter] on TV, now you're going to see one in person."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gross |first=Kevin |date=June 29, 2017 |title=Scioscia reminisces on Fernando's no-no |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mike-scioscia-caught-fernando-s-1990-no-hitter-c239574080 |access-date=October 24, 2024 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":13">{{Cite web |last=Ladson |first=Bill |date=October 23, 2024 |title=Scioscia on Fernando: 'A down-to-earth kid from Mexico' who became a star |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/mike-scioscia-remembers-the-late-fernando-valenzuela |access-date=October 24, 2024 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}</ref>) It was the first time in the modern baseball era that two no-hitters were thrown on the same day.<ref name="plaschke_06301990">{{cite news|first=Bill|last=Plaschke|title=The Night of Two No-Hitters : Fernando Pitches One for the First Time as He Stymies Cardinals, 6–0|date=June 30, 1990|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-06-30-sp-434-story.html|access-date=October 23, 2024}}</ref>

=== Post-Dodgers career ===
[[File:Fernando Valenzuela 1991.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Valenzuela pitching for the [[Los Angeles Angels|California Angels]] in 1991]]
After struggling in [[spring training]] at 1–2 and a 7.88 ERA in 16 innings in 1991, Valenzuela was released by the Dodgers. At the time of his release, several Dodgers leaders, including Lasorda, [[Fred Claire]], and [[Peter O'Malley]], praised Valenzuela for creating exciting memories over several seasons and indicated that it was a difficult decision to release him.<ref name=LNS>{{cite news|title=Fernando Valenzuela released by Dodgers|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2245&dat=19910329&id=TZwzAAAAIBAJ&pg=2051,4318064&hl=en|access-date=April 15, 2015|work=[[Lodi News-Sentinel]]|agency=AP|date=March 29, 1991}}</ref> However, others described his cut as a cost-cutting move,<ref name="wilson" /> as the Dodgers were facing a deadline to guarantee Valenzuela's $2.55 million contract.<ref name=":9">{{Cite news |last=Sandomir |first=Richard |date=October 23, 2024 |title=Fernando Valenzuela, Pitcher Whose Screwballs Eluded Batters, Dies at 63 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/23/sports/fernando-valenzuela-dead.html |access-date=October 24, 2024 |work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hernandez |first=Dylan |date=March 30, 2011 |title=Fernando Valenzuela was a game-changer for the Dodgers, baseball, and Los Angeles |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-xpm-2011-mar-30-la-sp-0331-fernandomania-20110331-story.html |access-date=October 24, 2024 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

With respect to the major leagues, 1991 and 1992 were essentially lost seasons for Valenzuela. Being cut late in 1991 spring training, when most rosters were already fixed, made it hard for Valenzuela to find a new team that year.<ref name="wilson" /><ref name=":7" /> He signed with the [[Los Angeles Angels|California Angels]] later that summer, but played in only two games and posted a 12.15 ERA.<ref name=cromwell/> He spent most of the season on the disabled list due to a heart problem.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Jack |date=August 6, 2021 |title=Fernando Valenzuela has fond memories of his brief stint with the Angels 30 years ago |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2021-08-06/fernando-valenzuela-angels-two-starts-1991-season-dodgers |access-date=October 24, 2024 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> In 1992, he was out of the majors entirely and played for [[Charros de Jalisco]] of the Mexican League, going 10–9 with a 3.86 overall ERA, including an improved 2.70 in the second half. He completed 13 games in 22 starts.<ref>{{cite news|title=Valenzuela awaits chance|date=August 21, 1992|newspaper=The Windsor Star|page=B2|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star/157719512/|via=[[Newspapers.com]]|access-date=October 24, 2024}}</ref>

Valenzuela returned to the majors in 1993 with the [[Baltimore Orioles]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Beth |date=October 23, 2024 |title=Former Orioles pitcher and Dodgers ace Fernando Valenzuela dies at 63 |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/10/22/orioles-dodgers-fernando-valenzuela-dies/ |access-date=October 24, 2024 |website=Baltimore Sun |language=en-US}}</ref> He was relatively healthy, making 31 starts, but gave up more walks than strikeouts for only the second time in his career (the other time being his injury-plagued 1988 season). His ERA was an unimpressive 4.94. He returned to the Mexican League for the start of 1994, but got another opportunity in the majors with the [[Philadelphia Phillies]], who needed injury replacements for their starting rotation. He pitched well, starting 7 games and recording a 3.00 ERA until a [[1994–95 Major League Baseball strike|players' strike]] wiped out the remainder of the season.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lugardo |first=Destiny |date=October 23, 2024 |title=Fernando Valenzuela's last start as a Phillie was a memorable one – Phillies Nation |url=https://www.philliesnation.com/2024/10/philadelphia-phillies-fernando-valenzuela-veterans-stadium-1994-strike-los-angeles-dodgers-fernandomania/ |access-date=October 24, 2024 |language=en-US}}</ref> When the Phillies announced that Valenzuela would start the July 4, 1994, Dodgers-Phillies game in Los Angeles, the Dodgers sold nearly 20,000 tickets within a week and recorded a sellout. Valenzuela gave up two runs in six innings; both runs were partially caused by a muffed fly ball "that was charitably scored a double." The Dodgers won 3–1.<ref name=":4" />

Valenzuela moved back to Southern California to play for the [[San Diego Padres]], with whom he enjoyed his last successful season in [[1996 San Diego Padres season|1996]], going 13–8 with a 3.62 ERA.<ref name="cromwell">{{cite web|first=Carter|last=Cromwell|title=June 29, 1990: Fernando Valenzuela predicts, then throws no-hitter for Dodgers|publisher=Society for American Baseball Research|url=https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/june-29-1990-fernando-valenzuela-predicts-then-throws-no-hitter-for-dodgers/|access-date=October 23, 2024}}</ref> Valenzuela started MLB's first-ever game in Mexico,<ref name=":14">{{Cite web |title='Fernandomania' and beyond: Remembering Fernando Valenzuela's best moments |url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/fernando-valenzuelas-best-career-moments |access-date=October 24, 2024 |website=FOX Sports |language=en-US}}</ref> helping the Padres beat the [[New York Mets]] at the [[Estadio Mobil Super|Estadio Monterrey]] on August 16, 1996.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Doutrich |first=Paul E. |title=August 16, 1996: Valenzuela, Padres enjoy a baseball fiesta in Mexico – Society for American Baseball Research |url=https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/august-16-1996-san-diego-padres-15-new-york-mets-10-at-estadio-beisbol-de-monterrey-monterrey-mexico/ |access-date=October 24, 2024 |language=en-US}}</ref>

On June 13, 1997, the Padres traded Valenzuela, [[Scott Livingstone]], and [[Phil Plantier]] to the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] for [[Rich Batchelor]], [[Danny Jackson]], and [[Mark Sweeney]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-06-14-sp-3324-story.html|title=Padres Trade Valenzuela to Cardinals|agency=Associated Press|work=Los Angeles Times|date=June 14, 1997|access-date=October 23, 2024}}</ref> He made five starts for the Cardinals, ending his MLB career with a record of 173–153 and a 3.54 ERA.<ref name="br" />

The Dodgers invited Valenzuela to spring training in 1999, but he declined the offer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jan-22-sp-710-story.html|title=Valenzuela Has Dodger Invite|author=Bill Shaikin|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=January 22, 1999}}</ref> In his mid-40s, he played a couple of seasons in the [[Mexican Pacific League]] for [[Águilas de Mexicali]].<ref name=BRMinors/>