Via Joe Christensen and Amelia Rayno, beat writers with the Minneapolis Star-Tribune:
The Twins have no plans to trade Michael Cuddyer this season even if they fall from contention, a team official said Friday, adding that an effort will be made to re-sign Cuddyer this fall.
Cuddyer is an impending free agent and has around $5 million remaining on his $10.5 million salary for 2011. Most fourth-place teams would be looking to dump his contract for a package of projectable young talent.
But Cuddyer has also been the Twins’ best hitter, and Minnesota entered Sunday’s action only six games back of the Indians in the American League Central. Trading him, in some ways, would be like throwing in the towel.
Cuddyer, 32, is batting .296/.372/.467 with 13 home runs and 44 RBI through 363 plate appearances this season. He did tell CBS Sports’ Scott Miller last month that he would be willing to waive his no-trade clause.