Jim Edmonds’ batting average had fallen to .178 — more than 100 points below his lifetime mark — and he clearly had lost a step or two while chasing fly balls in center field.

The 37-year-old Edmonds was hardly the only struggling player on the team with the worst record in the big leagues. His struggles were glaring enough, though, that San Diego released him on Friday, a move that will cost the Padres approximately $4.7 million.