MINNEAPOLIS -- Brad Radke wants to stay with the Minnesota Twins, and send a message that his team deserves to be saved.

	Brad Radke Starting Pitcher Minnesota Twins Profile
	2001 SEASON STATISTICS GM W L Sv K ERA 33 15 11 0 137 3.94

The star pitcher informed the team Thursday that he was declining the opt-out clause in his contract.

Radke signed a four-year, $36 million contract in July 2000 that included the right to demand a trade after the 2001 season. If Radke had exercised the option, the Twins would have had to trade him by Feb. 15 or he would have become a free agent.

The Twins could be headed toward elimination as part of the owners' contraction plan that also might eliminate the Montreal Expos.

"I'd like to see the Twins stay in Minnesota, and maybe this will help out a little," Radke said. "It won't hurt. I think it might have hurt if I had decided to get out."

Radke has three years remaining on the contract, and a no-trade clause will take effect for the final three years.

"This is an indication in my mind that Brad wants to see this through, to see this organization succeed," Twins general manager Terry Ryan said. "He likes living in this community during the season, he likes the people in this organization. There are a lot of positives in this."

Radke was 15-11 last season with a 3.94 ERA.

"I just sat down and did some thinking and thought that we had a heck of a year last year, and I just want to be part of the future here," Radke said. "We have a group of great players on this team."