If I were the GM: Landon Evanson

In our ongoing series, exploring what people would do if given control of their team for the offseason, I consulted Landon Evanson, the Twins writer at Bugs and Cranks and got his thoughts on the offseason. His words are below:

Twins GM Bill Smith is in an interesting position as baseball's winter kicks into full-swing. On paper, the Twins aren't that far off -- perhaps just one player away from being the clear-cut favorite to win the American League Central next season.

That said, wise decisions will only occur through long hours of deliberation because Minnesota has many options in many areas.

Here are the positions of need:

First and foremost, Michael Cuddyer will be back for the duration of '09, but it's not quite that simple. You see, with the emergence of Denard Span, the most beneficial position for Cuddyer may be a return to third base but he didn't take to the hot corner as he did right field. Then again, he's too good defensively to DH so what to do?

And at short, while Nickie Punto put up decent numbers, his bat is a liability on an everyday basis, but that doesn't mean the Twins can't get away with him playing all season long -- they just need to pick up a bat at either third or short.

Jason Kubel finally had a solid season but being that he's left-handed, and the Twins are already lefty-heavy, what do the Twins do?

And with the perceived return of Pat Neshek it seemed as though the Twins depth of bullpen and set-up spot were locked up -- but it turns out that Neshek will likely miss all of next season so -- back to the drawing board.

Solutions:

With Kubel's pop and the myriad of solid youngsters the Twins have up-and-down their farm system, a deal could easily be worked out with the Rockies for Garrett Atkins, a man that would solidify the third base position for the Twins for the first time since Corey Koskie's departure following the 2004 season. And why? Because Atkins has averaged 25 homers and 110 RBI with a .305 average over the past three seasons and the boy can play some defense at third (see presence on the greatest defensive team in baseball history '07). Then again, he costs money but the Twins are moving into a new park. Perhaps. Just perhaps. And with all the rumors swirling around Brian Fuentes, if the Boulders were willing to package Atkins and Fuentes that would be a mighty-fine deal for the Twins because Fuentes was content as a set-up man for Manny Corpas during the Rocktober run. But that's not happening -- the Fuentes part, anyway -- but it's still nice to think about for a minute or two. Fuentes setting up Joe Nathan? Warm fuzzies. But back to reality.

Then again, the Twins may not go the Atkins route, instead setting their sights on J.J. Hardy or Yunel Escobar. Hardy can pick it and would be the best bat Minnesota has ever had at short. Zoilo Versalles may have been sick in '65 but Hardy's production is consistent and he's only 25. Escobar would fit nicely, too because he is solid afield, hits for average and he is only 25 years old also. But if neither move were to materialize, signing Orlando Cabrera would be a welcome transaction. Not only is Cabrera a Gold Glove defender but he has helped his past three teams reach October, he's won a World Series, can hit, has a bit of pop and can steal bases. Not only that, he is capable of playing small ball if need be and he would provide a strong veteran, Latino presence for youngsters Alexi Casilla and Carlos Gomez. Oh, and one added bonus, it would be taking Cabrera away from the White Sox and beating them with their own guy. Sometimes life has its little bonuses.

The Twins will need to find a way to deal for a set-up man unless they ink Juan Cruz because no one else out there really knocks your socks off and Neshek was fantastic, so those are big shoes to fill. Then again, the Twins need to and should re-sign Senor Southpaw, Dennys Reyes.

And Punto absolutely has to return -- he is Twins Baseball personified. Punto plays hard, runs the bases well, plays small ball, makes contact, excels with the glove at numerous positions and is all about doing whatever needs doing to win a game. Playing every day he is valuable with limitations, but as a utility man he could be the best in baseball.

Long story short (many of you are probably thinking, too late) -- the Twins should deal Kubel and prospects to pick up Atkins and hopefully find a way to harness a solid set-up man in the process, which would mean Cuddyer returns to right, Span slides over to left and Delmon Young becomes the everyday DH. After that, Minnesota should sign Orlando Cabrera to play short if it is economically possible or simply re-sign Punto to play every day. So long as one more bat is added, the Twins can allow Nickie to play every day. That said, if only one man can be added, it doesn't it should be Atkins because he provides a right-handed, run-producing bat that would allow the line-up to fall as such:

LF Span
2B Casilla
C Mauer
1B Morneau
3B Atkins
RF Cuddyer
LF Young
SS Punto
CF Gomez

And you'd be hard-pressed to a find a Twins fan anywhere unhappy about that line-up. Now if only Cabrera could be slipped in there...

Bottom line, Smith is in position to make a smart deal just as the Twins may have re-emerged as the favorite in the Central -- a young, talented team that is one player away and just one season short of playing in a new ballpark. Did I mention that Minnesota's rotation is set with another year's experience under its collective belt or that Francisco Liriano will be good to go from day one this spring? Just sayin'.

This is going to be a fun winter leading up to the final campaign under the Teflon confines and you know what, with the options Smith has at his disposal, I don't think the Twins can go wrong and our long goodbye to the Metrdome should prove a fond farewell.