SAN DIEGO — Free agent shortstop Alexei Ramirez has agreed to a one-year contract with the San Diego Padres, pending a physical.
Also on Thursday, the Padres signed free agent pitcher Carlos Villanueva to a $1.5 million, one-year deal. The team avoided salary arbitration with catcher Derek Norris and left-hander Drew Pomeranz.
Norris, an All-Star in 2014 with Oakland, agreed to a $2,925,000 contract. Pomeranz, who made $517,500 last year with the Athletics, got a $1.35 million deal.
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 and Clint Barmes made 51.
Ramirez was an All-Star in 2014. His average dropped to a career-low .249 last year.
Villanueva was 4-3 with a 2.95 ERA and two saves in 35 relief appearances for St. Louis last season. The right-hander gets a $1.25 million salary and a $250,000 signing bonus payable on Jan. 15, 2017.
He can earn another $500,000 each for making 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 starts; $250,000 each for 30 and 40 relief appearances; $500,000 each for 50 and 60 relief outings; and $500,000 each for 40, 50 and 60 games finished.
San Diego also selected the contract of left-hander Ryan Buchter and granted right-hander Marcos Mateo his release from the 40-man roster for the purpose of playing in the Japanese Central League.
