"It's still not clear whether Michael Cuddyer will be back with the Twins. But the free-agent outfielder might be more valuable to the Twins than Joe Mauer or Justin Morneau, Joe Nathan said Thursday.

"Everyone always talks about the Mauers and the Morneaus, but Cuddy's as important, if not more, and I think last year showed how he probably is a little more important to that club," said Nathan, the Twins' career saves leader who last month signed a free-agent deal with the Texas Rangers.

"(It's) just with his versatility," Nathan said. "He plays every day. You won't hear anything (from him) if he's banged up - he goes out and plays the game. If he's not in the lineup, something's got to be keeping him from going out there - it's not going to be because he needs rest or anything like that.

"I've always said, he's a baseball player, and it doesn't matter where he's out there, what position he's playing. He just wants to play the game."

Nathan said he has no insight as to where Cuddyer, 32, whom the Twins reportedly have offered a three-year contract in the $25 million range by the Twins, is headed next season.

"I shot a text to Cuddy awhile back and didn't get a whole lot back from him," Nathan said.

The Twins have re-signed free agent Matt Capps to replace Nathan. "