Astros general manager Ed Wade announced Sunday that Houston has signed infielder Joe Thurston to a minor league contract.
The deal includes a non-roster invitation to Spring Training.
Thurston, 32, spent the majority of the 2011 regular season at Triple-A New Orleans (Marlins' affiliate), where he hit .300 with 13 homers, 59 RBI, 34 doubles and 12 stolen bases in 126 games.
He appeared in one game for the Marlins, going 1-for-4 with a stolen base on Aug. 5 during a home matchup against St. Louis.
Thurston, a fourth-round pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 1999 First-Year Player Draft, is hitting .226 with a homer and 25 RBI in 184 games at the big league level over seven seasons.
The veteran infielder has spent time with the Dodgers (2002-04), Phillies (2006), Red Sox (2008), Cardinals (2009) and Marlins (2011).
He's posted a .294 batting average with 93 homers, 642 RBI, 302 doubles and 201 stolen bases over 1,470 career minor league games.
Although Thurston is listed as a second baseman, he offers the Astros defensive versatility due to fielding every position over the course of his career -- except for first base, pitcher and catcher.
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