After four consecutive seasons of at least 90 losses, the Twins manager and his coaching staff have no idea if they've worked their final game at Target Field.

But manager Ron Gardenhire is hoping that's not the case.

Gardenhire, speaking Wednesday before the Twins defeated the Arizona Diamondbacks 2-1 in the season's final home game, expressed hope that he is allowed to return for 2015, the final year of the two-year contract extension he signed at the end of last season.

"Absolutely, I've always said this is my home," he said. "It's where I like it at. I love the organization. I love this area, the whole package. Why wouldn't you want to be here? It is as good as it gets. But I'm all for whatever is best for the organization, too."

The home finale was a reflection of the good and bad the Twins have endured in 2014. Righthander Phil Hughes pitched eight strong innings — but he fell one out short of reaching 210 innings for the season and triggering a $500,000 bonus, thanks to an 1-hour, 6-minute rain delay. And there was more bad, as third baseman Trevor Plouffe, the team leader in RBI, broke his left forearm while trying to make a tag at third base.

As Gardenhire spoke before the game, boxes and suitcases were spread across the clubhouse. Many players packed up their gear to ship home so they don't have to return to Target Field once the final out of the season is made in Detroit. One estimate had half of the team scattering after the Tigers series.

Brian Stensaas — DML - Star Tribune Star Tribune
Ron Gardenhire kept an eye on the final game of the season at Target Field.

A season in which team officials had hoped would end with a record close to .500 went the other way. While the offense improved as the season continued, starting pitching, once again, let the team down.

Gardenhire, however, talked about some of the promising things he has seen this season, including:

• On outfielder Aaron Hicks: "Is better, no doubt, is better. His swing is compact. He's using the middle of the field."

• On righthander Kyle Gibson: "With his stuff and his angle and his pitches, I think he has definitely got a chance to be a pretty good one for us."

• On the offense: "Get our starters in line and if this offense can do what it's done over the last couple of months, we have a chance. It's a lot of ifs. Every ballclub has ifs."

Gardenhire then walked out to a sparse crowd at Target Field on an overcast day to finish up the three-game series against the Diamondbacks before flying to Detroit to end the season.

By early next week, Gardenhire, and perhaps a couple of members of the coaching staff, will learn of their futures.

"I haven't talked to [General Manager] Terry [Ryan]," Gardenhire said. "We're going on this trip together. We'll see if we have any conversations. I'll talk to him before [talking to the media] about any of that stuff. It is up to Terry."

With mounting losses, increasing fan apathy and concerns over a drop in corporate sponsorships, the Twins could have no choice but to make changes to the coaching staff. It's a veteran staff, starting with Gardenhire, in this 13th season as manager; pitching coach Rick Anderson, who's been with Gardenhire from the beginning; third base coach Scott Ullger, who's been on the major league staff since 1995; and Joe Vavra, who's been on the staff since 2006.

Ryan's constant message is that the front office has not given Gardenhire enough quality players to win. The Twins hoped to present the two jewels of their farm system — third baseman Miguel Sano and outfielder Byron Buxton — sometime this season. But Sano missed all of the season and Buxton most of it because of injuries. Fans did see Danny Santana and Kennys Vargas come up from Class AA New Britain and boost the offense.

Still, 90 or more losses in four consecutive years. Gardenhire wants to see this through but might not get the chance.

Ryan, during his meeting with the media on Wednesday, said he won't take long to announce moves.

"We'll address it when the time is right, and it won't go deep [into the calendar], you know that," Ryan said. "We've got plans to be made, things to do, decisions to make in people's lives we're affecting. So if we end up doing something, we certainly need to let people know."

Gardenhire was asked if he might have managed his final game at Target Field.

"I don't get into that until I talk to Terry and see how everything works out," he said. "I don't get into that stuff. If it was, it was.''