Baseball-Major League Baseball roundup

Nov 24 (The Sports Xchange) - The Boston Red Sox reportedly acquired two prized free agents on Monday -- shortstop Hanley Ramirez and third baseman Pablo Sandoval. Ramirez, 30, hit .283 with a .369 on-base percentage, a .448 slugging percentage, 13 homers and 71 RBIs in 128 games for the Los Angeles Dodgers this past season. Sandoval, 28, has won three World Series rings in five years with the Giants and is coming off a season where he hit .279 with 16 home runs and 73 RBIs. - - Pitchers who won a combined nine Cy Young Awards and position players who earned three batting titles are among 17 new candidates on the 2015 Hall of Fame ballot. Pitchers Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez and John Smoltz; infielder Nomar Garciaparra and outfielder Gary Sheffield join 17 holdovers from the 2014 balloting. Holdovers who remain on the ballot include Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Mike Piazza and Jeff Bagwell. - - After 11 seasons, outfielder Josh Willingham told ESPN that he is retiring. The 35-year-old hit .253 with 195 home runs during a career that included stops with the Florida Marlins, Washington Nationals, Oakland Athletics, Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals. - - Third baseman Kyle Seager and the Seattle Mariners are nearing a long-term deal that will keep the 27-year-old in the Northwest for the next seven years. According to multiple reports, the Mariners will lock up Seager at a cost of nearly $100 million. The contract will include an option in the eighth year and could be worth another $20 million. - - Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Cliff Lee got the green light to begin his offseason throwing program. Lee missed the final two months of the 2014 season because of a left elbow strain. - - ESPN reported that the Texas Rangers have engaged the Atlanta Braves in talks with the hope of acquiring outfielder B.J. Upton. (Editing by Frank Pingue)