The Astros won a franchise-record 103 games in 2018 before falling 4-1 to the eventual champion Boston Red Sox in the American League Championship Series.
And if they had gotten Bryce Harper, who knows?
But the trade almost happened.
“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 said toward the end of a media interview. “We had worked out an agreement with players both ways.”
Jeff Luhnow confirmed today the Astros had an agreement in principle to trade for Bryce Harper at last season’s trade deadline.
— Chandler Rome (@Chandler_Rome) February 14, 2019
The Astros’ trade-deadline connection to Harper was first reported by The Athletic.
“Certainly a player like that would have helped us,” said Luhnow, referring to the 26-year-old outfielder, who hit .279 with 184 home runs, 521 RBIs and .900 OPS during seven seasons with Washington, winning the 2015 National League MVP and earning six All-Star selections.
“That one didn’t get reported for a long time and then someone mentioned it late this offseason,” Luhnow said. “I think fans would be surprised at the types of players at times we’ve gone after and how close we’ve come on some of ’em.”
Too bad the Astros won’t sign him as a free agent.
They certainly don’t want to spend that kind of cash.
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