Ron Gardenhire is welcome to work for the Minnesota Twins but has told the team he plans to take the year off.

Gardenhire was fired after last season and replaced by Paul Molitor. Gardenhire is under contract for this year.

“There’s no finality,” general manager Terry Ryan told the St. Paul Pioneer Press on Monday. “He has an invitation. If he wants to come, he can come.”

Ryan said the Twins would give permission if another organization asked to speak with Gardenhire, who managed the team from 2002 through last year.

“We’re paying him, but that permission would be granted,” Ryan said. “If he wants to get back in or somebody wants to talk to him, we won’t be in anybody’s way.”

With 1,068 career wins, Gardenhire has more dugout victories than all but four active managers: Bruce Bochy, Mike Scioscia, Buck Showalter and Terry Francona.