Two days after he declined the Mariners’ assignment to the Tacoma Rainiers and became a free agent, pitcher Roy Corcoran signed a minor league contract today with the Houston Astros.

He’ll join the Class AAA Round Rock Express on Thursday. And guess who Round Rock is playing? Yep, the Tacoma Rainiers, who begin a four-game series at Round Rock tonight.

There were a lot of “what is he thinking” comments after word got out that Corcoran had chosen free agency instead of reporting to Tacoma. However, it seemed like his opportunity with the Mariners had run out, given how they used him … or how they didn’t use him.

Corcoran struggled to pitch through a sore arm at spring training and it bugged him early in the season. The Mariners put him on the disabled list April 29 because of a stiff neck, and he remained on the DL until June 13. Then he barely pitched — only eight games before the Mariners designated him for assignment on July 24.

He goes out with a 2-0 record and 6.16 ERA in his second season with the Mariners after going 6-2, 3.22 with three saves last year in 50 relief appearances.