barzilla wrote:
He must think he has a faster ticket to the big leagues in Houston. Imagine someone thinking he has a better chance than KC. Wow, how the mighty have fallen.

The Astros may have been willing to give him some kind of contract protection, i.e., if you aren't called up to the majors by X date, then you can become a free agent again. That way if Thompson pitches well in RR, but isn't called up, he can use his AAA performance to try and get a major league job elsewhere. That is something the Astros frequently offer veteran pitchers at Round Rock.   I think I read that Gustavo Chacin has that kind of condition in his contract.  Brendan Donnelly was picked up by Wade last year and had similar contract protection.  He pitched really well in Round Rock, but the Astros didn't call him up before the deadline in his contract, and he signed with the Marlins (where he posted a 1.25 ERA as a set up man).