10:50pm: Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (on Twitter) there is nothing going on between Lopez and the Astros. GM Jeff Luhnow told MLB.com's Brian McTaggart they are not in “active discussions at this time with free agents.”
5:46pm: The Astros are close to signing Jose Lopez according to Carlos Gonzalez Lovito at the Venezuelan sports blog Sin Uniforme. MLBTR's Nick Collias provided the translation.
"On December 26th I'm going to fly to Houston," said Lopez at a press conference. "Nothing is firm yet, but I might have to stop playing (in the Venezuelan winter leagues). Everything depends on the physical exams."
Lopez, 29, hit .246/.270/.356 with four homers in 248 plate appearances with the Indians and White Sox last season while playing right field in addition to first, second, and third bases. His numbers against left-handers were a bit more respectable (.277/.293/.415). Lopez is represented by Martin Arburua.
