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Report: Nats ownership nixed Harper deadline trade to Astros

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The Houston Astros' postseason could have gone very differently if one trade hadn't fallen through.

Houston had a deal in place for outfielder Bryce Harper on July 30, but Washington Nationals ownership wouldn't approve the move, league sources told The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal.

The Astros would reportedly have sent right-hander J.B. Bukauskas and two other minor leaguers to Washington.

Catcher Garrett Stubbs was another name mentioned in the possible deal.

The Nationals also reportedly turned down an offer for Harper from the Los Angeles Dodgers involving outfielder Yasiel Puig in August.

Harper wound up spending the entirety of 2018 with Washington and is now a free agent. A return to the Nationals seems unlikely after he rejected a 10-year, $300-million offer from them, according to a report.

Washington will receive a compensatory pick after the fourth round if Harper turns down the $17.9-million qualifying offer made to him by the Nationals, which he is expected to do.

The 26-year-old should command a record-setting deal in free agency after hitting .279/.388/.512 with 184 home runs and 521 RBIs during seven seasons with the Nationals.

Harper has appeared in six All-Star games and was the NL MVP in 2015.

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