LAS VEGAS — The Rockies finally got the big bat they’ve been searching for when they agreed in principle today on a three-year deal with former Minnesota Twins outfielder Michael Cuddyer.

The deal is worth roughly $30 million, The Post confirmed today.

As reported in The Denver Post on Thursday, the Rockies made an extra-strong strong push for Cuddyer, hoping to make him their first big-ticket free agent since 2000.

Cuddyer was also weighing interest from Philadelphia and Seattle.

The Rockies started pursuing Cuddyer at the end of the season, and things really picked up a week ago when general manager Dan O’Dowd cleared $9 million off the year’s payroll in trades of reliever Huston Street and third baseman Ian Stewart. O’Dowd, as he stressed in Wednesday’s conference call with season-ticket holders, wants to change the clubhouse culture. Cuddyer would provide another veteran leader with playoff experience.

He’ll also bring the type of bat that could hit fifth in the order. Cuddyer hit .284 last season with 20 home runs and 70 RBIs.

The right-handed-hitting Cuddyer, 32, has hit at least 20 homers three times in his career, including a career-high 32 in 2009. In 1,139 career games, all with the Twins, Cuddyer is a .272 hitter with 141 homers and 580 RBIs.

Cuddyer figures to fit primarily into the outfield, but also could play first base on days when Todd Helton is not in the lineup.

The acquisition now brings outfielder Seth Smith’s role into question. He could be used as a valuable bench role — he was one of the game’s best pinch-hitters in 2009 — or as trade bait to acquire a starting pitcher.

Smith hit .284 with 15 homers and 59 RBIs last season, but produced only five extra-base hits in 92 at-bats off lefties.