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Astros Not Close To Signing Jose Lopez

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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.

Astros Sign Jose Veras

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4:10pm: The Astros plan to give Veras the chance to close, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reports. The right-hander’s contract includes significant incentives based on games finished that could increase his $1.85MM salary by $500K. Depending on Veras’ games finished total next year, the value of the 2014 option could increase to the $4-5.5MM range, Rosenthal reports.

1:17pm: The Astros announced that they have signed right-handed reliever Jose Veras to a one-year contract. The deal is worth $2MM, according to Enrique Rojas of ESPNDeportes, who first reported the agreement (on Twitter). The deal includes a 2013 salary of $1.85MM and a 2014 option worth $3.25MM with a $150K buyout. Praver/Shapiro represents Veras.

Veras, 32, elected to become a free agent last month after the Brewers outrighted him off of their 40-man roster. The move amounted to an early non-tender for Veras, who had a projected salary of $2.6MM.

In 72 appearances for Milwaukee in 2012, Veras posted a 3.63 ERA with 10.6 K/9, 5.4 BB/9 and a 43.8% ground ball rate in 67 innings. The seven-year veteran has a career ERA of 4.01 with 9.4 K/9, 4.9 BB/9 and a 39.4% ground ball rate. He averaged 93.8 mph with his fastball this past season, generating swings and misses 9% of the time.

Outrighted To Triple-A: Miller, Beato, Nunez, Pearce

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The latest outright assignments from around MLB…

  • The Astros outrighted infielder Brandon Laird and outfielder Che-Hsuan Lin to Triple-A after the players cleared waivers, Brian McTaggart of MLB.com reports (on Twitter).
  • The Yankees announced that they outrighted right-hander Jim Miller to Triple-A. They had designated him for assignment two days ago to create 40-man roster space for Ichiro Suzuki.
  • The Red Sox outrighted Pedro Beato to Triple-A after he cleared waivers, Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal reports (on Twitter). The Red Sox designated the right-hander for assignment two days ago to create roster space for Ryan Dempster. 
  • The Diamondbacks outrighted shortstop Gustavo Nunez to Detroit's Triple-A affiliate, the Tigers announced. Nunez, a 2011 Rule 5 Draft selection, spent the 2012 season on the Pirates' disabled list recovering from right ankle surgery. The Diamondbacks claimed him off of waivers from Pittsburgh on October 26th before returning him to Detroit today. 
  • The Orioles announced that they outrighted outfielder Steve Pearce to Triple-A. The club now has one open 40-man roster spot.
  • The Cubs announced that they outrighted Gerardo Concepcion to Class A Kane County after the left-hander cleared waivers. Chicago's 40-man roster now includes 39 players.
  • The Blue Jays announced that they outrighted right-hander Mickey Storey to Triple-A Buffalo. Toronto had claimed Storey off of waivers earlier in the week.

Astros Designate Che-Hsuan Lin For Assignment

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The Astros announced that they designated outfielder Che-Hsuan Lin for assignment (Twitter link). The move creates roster space for recently-acquired right-hander John Ely.

The Astros claimed Lin off of waivers from the Red Sox in October. The 24-year-old made his MLB debut this past season, appearing in nine games as a center fielder and right fielder.

Astros Acquire John Ely

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The Astros announced that they acquired right-hander John Ely from the Dodgers for minor league left-hander Rob Rasmussen. The Dodgers now have 39 players on the 40 man roster.

Ely appeared in two games for the Dodgers in 2012, but spent most of the season at Triple-A. The 26-year-old led the Triple-A Pacific Coast League with a 3.20 ERA in 168 2/3 innings. Ely, a former third round selection of the White Sox, started 18 games for the Dodgers in 2010, posting a 5.49 ERA with 6.8 K/9 and 3.6 BB/9 in 100 innings. He has just shy of one year of MLB service (167 days).

Rasmussen, 23, was a second round draft pick of the Marlins in 2010. The Astros acquired him from Miami along with Matt Dominguez for Carlos Lee this past summer. In 142 innings at Class A and Double A, Rasmussen posted a 4.25 ERA with 7.5 K/9 and 3.4 BB/9.

Blue Jays Claim Mickey Storey

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The Blue Jays announced that they claimed right-hander Mickey Storey off of waivers from the Astros. Toronto's 40-man roster is full after claiming Storey, who had been designated for assignment by Houston two days ago.

It's been a busy month for Storey. The Yankees claimed him off of waivers from Houston on November 20th, only to designate him for assignment in early December. Houston then claimed Storey back off of waivers, before removing him from the 40-man roster on Monday.

Storey made 26 relief appearances for the Astros this past season. The 26-year-old posted a 3.86 ERA with 10.1 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9 in 30 1/3 innings at the MLB level. He also spent considerable time at Triple-A in 2012, posting a 3.05 ERA with 10.0 K/9 and 1.9 BB/9 in 65 innings.

Astros Designate Storey For Assignment

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The Astros announced that they designated right-hander Mickey Storey for assignment. The move creates 40-man roster space for Carlos Pena, who officially signed with Houston today.

The Yankees claimed Storey off of waivers from Houston on November 20th, only to designate him for assignment in early December. Houston then claimed Storey back off of waivers, but he's now losing his 40-man roster spot again.

Storey made 26 relief appearances for the Astros this past season. The 26-year-old posted a 3.86 ERA with 10.1 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9 in 30 1/3 innings at the MLB level. He also spent considerable time at Triple-A in 2012, posting a 3.05 ERA with 10.0 K/9 and 1.9 BB/9 in 65 innings.

Latest On Lance Berkman, Astros

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The Astros agreed to sign Carlos Pena today, but that doesn’t mean they’re out of the mix for free agent first baseman Lance Berkman. That said, Berkman might not be playing for any MLB team in 2013.

Berkman told Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports that he’s still undecided about whether he’ll play in 2013 (Twitter links). He’s intrigued about the possibility of spending more time with his family and helping coach the Rice baseball team. The Astros are open to bringing Berkman back and other clubs are interested, Rosenthal reports.

Berkman recently met with Astros owner Jim Crane, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com reports (Twitter links). At this point the switch hitter seems to be a "backburner issue" for the Astros, according to Heyman.

Heyman & Knobler On Oswalt, Norris, Porcello

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The latest from Jon Heyman and Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com (links go to Twitter)…

  • There’s no word from Roy Oswalt on whether he’ll pitch in 2013, Heyman reports.
  • The Astros would have to be overwhelmed to trade Jed Lowrie, according to Heyman. However, the Astros have talked to teams such as the Cardinals and Rangers about possible deals involving Bud Norris. Norris, 27, goes to arbitration for the first time this offseason following a 2012 campaign in which he posted a 4.65 ERA with 8.8 K/9 and 3.5 BB/9 in 168 1/3 innings. Even after a mixed platform season, Norris will do reasonably well in arbitration thanks to his career total of 563 2/3 innings. MLBTR projects a salary of $2.9MM.
  • The Tigers had almost a dozen calls about Rick Porcello within a few hours of their agreement with right-hander Anibal Sanchez, Knobler reports. The Tigers are expected to trade Porcello, who’s second time arbitration eligible with a projected salary of $4.7MM. The Cubs called, but there's no match, Knobler adds.
  • The Twins aren't done adding pitching, Heyman reports.

Astros To Sign Carlos Pena

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The Astros have agreed to sign Carlos Pena to a one-year contract worth $2.9MM, reports Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com. The Scott Boras client can earn another $1.4MM in incentives.

Pena, 34, is expected to split first base and DH duties with Brett Wallace according to Knobler. He hit just .197/.330/.354 in 600 plate appearances for the Rays this past season, though he did hit 19 homers as well. Pena has hit .206/.337/.408 over the last three seasons, so the Astros are counting on him to continue drawing walks and hitting the ball over the fence.

MLBTR's Tim Dierkes did not rank Pena among this winter's Top 50 Free Agents. The signing likely eliminates the possibility of a Lance Berkman reunion in Houston.

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