GM says Astros nearly landed Harper last July

Houston general manager Jeff Luhnow confirmed Thursday that the Astros were tantalizingly close to landing six-time All-Star Bryce Harper at the July 2018 trade deadline. "There was an agreement in principle in place and it didn't get over the finish line for whatever reason, out of our control. But yeah, we had interest," Luhnow told reporters at the Astros' spring training site in West Palm Beach, Fla. "We had worked out an agreement with players both ways."

Harper, who remains on the free agent market, remained with the Washington Nationals and finished the 2018 season with 34 homers, 100 RBIs, 103 runs and a National League-leading 130 walks. The Astros went on to win the American League West for the second straight season without Harper, setting a franchise record with 103 wins before losing to the Boston Red Sox in the American League Championship Series.

The Athletic reported last November that the Harper-to-Houston deal collapsed because Nationals ownership refused to sign off. According to that report, the proposed trade would have sent right-hander J.B. Bukauskas and two other prospects to Washington for Harper.

Luhnow said Thursday the Astros would probably surprise a lot of observers by their level of involvement in trade talks, adding the team plans to be heavily involved again this summer if the team is in position to contend for the playoffs. --Field Level Media