Shortstop Alexei Ramirez agrees to one-year deal with San Diego Padres

Free-agent shortstop Alexei Ramirez agreed to terms of a one-year contract with the San Diego Padres on Thursday, pending passing a physical.

The 34-year-old Ramirez had spent his entire eight-year career with the Chicago White Sox.

Upgrading at shortstop was one of San Diego’s top off-season needs. Alexi Amarista made 78 starts there last season while Clint Barmes made 51.

Ramirez was an All-Star in 2014. His average dropped to a career-low .249 last year.

Reduced sentence for Bosch

The former owner of a South Florida clinic at the center of a Major League Baseball steroids scandal that swept up New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez will get out of prison more than a year early because of his extensive cooperation with prosecutors, a federal judge in Miami ruled.

U.S. District Judge Darrin Gayles granted the prosecutors’ request to cut Anthony Bosch’s four-year sentence by 16 months, or about a third off. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sharad Motiani said Bosch, who ran the now-closed Biogenesis of America clinic in Coral Gables, Fla., revealed key evidence against at least four other people including a self-style chemist who supplied drugs made in his suburban garage and a sports agent who recruited players.

Bosch, 52, is now likely to get out of prison later this year, according to Bureau of Prisons records. He pleaded guilty in October 2014 to conspiracy to distribute testosterone, one of eight people convicted in the Biogenesis case.

Etc.

The Seattle Mariners and outfielder Leonys Martin agreed to a contract for the 2016 season and avoided salary arbitration. No financial terms were disclosed. ... The Detroit Tigers agreed to a one-year deal with infielder Andrew Romine, avoiding arbitration. ... The Texas Rangers avoided arbitration with Jurickson Profar, agreeing to a $605,000 contract with the infielder who missed the last two seasons with right shoulder trouble. ... The Chicago White Sox hired Jason Benetti as a TV play-by-play announcer with Ken Harrelson taking a reduced role.