Pete Kozma, who had one of the most important hits in recent Cardinals postseason history, was taken off the club’s 40-man winter roster Monday and outrighted to Class AAA Memphis after clearing waivers.
The Cardinals also officially picked up the $11.5 million option for 2016 on lefthander Jaime Garcia and declined the $9 million option ($2 million buyout) for next year on reliever Jonathan Broxton.
Both moves were expected but the most interesting involved reserve infielder Kozma, who spent all last season with the Cardinals, most of it on their bench.
After Rafael Furcal got hurt late in the 2012 season, Kozma was called up from Memphis and took over as the club’s regular shortstop for the rest of the season, when he hit .