It’s time to break up the Minnesota Twins.

Just typing that phrase makes me sick. But I’m afraid it’s all Bill Smith can do a with group of struggling veterans and depleted farm system.

The Twins won’t make the postseason. This we can bet on. To cover a 14 1/2-game deficit over a four-month period isn’t necessarily impossible, but to pass four teams in the process is. Heck, this group might even lose 100 games.

We’ve all been in relationships that aren’t working. We try to make them last because it would be too hard to say goodbye — or too awkward — or a disappointment to our families and friends.

Saying goodbye to Jason Kubel, Scott Baker and Francisco Liriano would be hard. Saying goodbye to Delmon Young and Matt Capps would be awkward and saying goodbye to Michael Cuddyer would be a disappointment to Twins fans. But it must be done.

It’s too early to trade, though. At this point in the season, the Twins wouldn’t get much value back for players who are struggling. The Twins must wait until the trade deadline to clean house and then a team like the Texas Rangers, desperate to make the playoffs, may send a top prospect or two in return for a consistent bat like Kubel’s.

I became a Twins fan at the right time — in 2002. Since then, as I began watching more and more games each season, the Twins have won six division titles in nine years. So naturally, this season has been tough.

What’s tougher, I think, would be turning on a Twins game and not seeing Michael Cuddyer in right field. But then again I thought I was going to miss Tori Hunter, too. So sayonara, Cuddy.

Bits and pieces

• Albert Lea shortstop and starting pitcher Aaron Klatt signed a national letter of intent this morning at Albert Lea High School to play baseball at South Dakota State University in Brookings, S.D. The Jackrabbits are a Division I program with a 35-18 overall record and 20-8 record in the Summit League, good for second place.

• Albert Lea High School graduate Ben Woodside was named to the All-EuroChallenge First Team this May for his play in the 2011 EuroChallenge Playoffs for BCM Gravelines, a French National Basketball League team. Woodside and BCM Gravelines will begin playing in the FNBL Pro A semifinals May 31 against Cholet after beating Roanne two games to three in the quarterfinals. Woodside had 15 points and 12 assists in Game 3 to advance. Special thanks to FreeTranslation.com for helping me understand what’s going on across the pond.

• Kris Humphries, a Minneapolis native who played basketball at Hopkins High School and University of Minnesota, is engaged to Kim Kardashian. Humphries must be expecting to sign a maximum deal this offseason to spend $2 million on the 20 1/2-carat ring. His 2011 salary with the New Jersey Nets was $3.2 million.