By subtracting negative performers, Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak has already made positive offensive changes for 2016.
Do the math and you see a better offense taking shape.
Gone is infielder Pete Kozma, who had more strikeouts (21) than total bases (15) last season as a seldom-seen backup. This futility forced manager Mike Matheny to wear down aging Jhonny Peralta by making him a permanent fixture at shortstop.
Kozma, a .222 hitter in his big-league career, finally exhausted the equity he built with his 2012 heroics. He is off the 40-man roster and out of harm’s way.