The Minnesota Twins have been very successful in capturing the Central Division flag this past decade. However, they have performed poorly this year, and one has to go back to the late ‘90s to find an apt comparison.

It is tempting to write this year off as an anomaly and return pretty much the same year’s team for 2012. That won’t do. Changes must be made. Last week’s column gave us the 2012 catcher, first and third baseman. We mentioned Nishioka at shortstop and hoped the Twins would look toward a trade or free agency to get a competent major league shortstop. While watching the Twins recently, an alternative to that expensive solution may have popped up. Luke Hughes has looked good at the bat and in the field these past few days at second base. Suppose the Twins put Alexi Casilla back at shortstop, where he did well defensively. Also, his .250 batting average is acceptable at that position. Not only that, he wouldn’t be playing second base just because Nishioka can’t.

With luck, that pretty much takes care of the infield. Cross our fingers.

Now to the outfield. What do the Twins need to do to provide outfielders that are an asset to the team? Let’s start with Michael Cuddyer. Cuddyer has been a big plus this year and one of the few players that have performed better than expected. Let’s assume the Twins make every effort to bring Cuddyer back next year. He is a fan favorite and if Cuddy is reasonable in his salary demands, the team is under a lot of pressure to have him in the lineup next year.

The Twins, no matter how Delmon Young performs for the Detroit Tigers these next two months, made a good move in shucking him. Delmon’s history is that he will revert to his usual inadequate performance next year.

The Young trade and the release of Jim Thome opens up the outfield logjam. If the Twins keep Jason Kubel, what a good designated hitter and fourth outfielder he would make. The candidates for the remaining two outfield positions are Denard Span and Ben Revere. Perhaps the speedy Revere in center field, but maybe left field is better suited for his weak arm.

O.K., now we have a lineup consisting of Revere, Span, Mauer, Morneau, Cuddyer, Kubel, Valencia, Hughes and Casilla. As we Minnesotans might say, "It could be worse."

Now we turn to the Twins’ biggest Achilles heel, the pitching staff. The only bright spot is Scott Baker. Could any other Twins’ pitcher make the starting staff of a contending team? I don’t think so, with the possible exception of Carl Pavano. Pavno is signed for next year. So we have two starters of the needed five. Let’s say the Twins can cull a third from Blackburn, Duensing, Slowey and Swarzak. That leaves two starters the team must acquire. That wouldn‚t be too bad except the two starters need to be No. 1 and No. 2. The team has a lot of starters to trade, but what can you get for poor to fair pitchers? Not much! It may come down to sacrificing Cuddyer or Kubel or both for starting pitching. Trade, free agency, or whatever. Get it done.

The relief pitching is in similar shape. The Twins do have a very good reliever in Glen Perkins. The rest of the middle relievers are merely adequate at best. Matt Capps has pitched well recently and Joe Nathan has come back. But the two salaries total $ 20 million and that may have to be used otherwise. $20 million will buy a lot of relief pitching.

All in all, a formidable task awaits General Manager Bill Smith this off season.