Michael Cuddyer is nearing the deal of his three-year, $31.5 million contract and will be a free agent this winter.

Walt Weiss wants to see the club re-sign Cuddyer, which seems unlikely to happen.

"I would like to see him back here," the manager said. "I just think he means so much to our club, in ways that go beyond the stat sheet.

"We are always going to have a relatively young team, because of the market we are in, and because of our payroll. So it makes it even more important to have guys who can set an example in the clubhouse and set an example of how to play the game out here. There is none better than Cuddy. I think that part of it is important to our club and the growth of our club."