In an alternate universe, Bryce Harper is taking swings for the Astros.Before the then-Washington National hit free agency following the 2018 season, Harper was reportedly on the trade block. The Nationals had offered to extend Harper, but the former league MVP was destined to hit free agency and make mega bucks.But that didn't deter his suitors, including the team that his Phillies face off against in the 2022 World Series.Among the teams that were after Harper's services in 2018 Mike Scott Jersey were Oakland, Cleveland and most importantly, Houston, which was looking to add some pop to its outfield to defend its 2017 World Series ring. In 2020, it was revealed that the Astros were planning to trade pitcherJ.B. Bukauskas and two other minor leaguers in the deal.Ultimately, , fearing that a trade would harm the relationship with Harper and hurt their chances at re-signing him in the offseason.FAGAN:Harper, though, was seemingly OK with the idea of a trade. , he explained that he would have been fine with a trade, and there would have been no bad blood with the organization:I really wish they wouldve came up to me and talked to me about it. If they wouldve, I wouldve been like, Guys, what just Jose Altuve Jersey happened with Aroldis Chapman? They just got Gleyber Torres with the frickin' Yankees, whos an absolute stud. Why not do that? Why not? Were out of it. I will come out and Carlos Lee Jersey say whatever you guys want to make to organization look good. I don't care. Say that you guys got four frickin' prospects, a pitcher, a catcher whoever you guys got, and if you try to sign me back that next year, I'm totally for that. I'll have no bad blood. Ill have no disrespect to you guys. You just made your organization better for the next, whatever years and you po sibly sign me back.Coincidentally, Houston was still hot after Harper even following the season. Harper said the team offered a one-year deal worth an "absurd" amount of money, but Harper couldn't turn down the 13-year, $330 million deal he got from Philadelphia.MORE: in the trade than just Bukauskas: infielders Abraham Toro, Randy Cesar, Josh James and lefty pitcher Kent Emanuel also would have been in the deal. Bukauskas was eventually traded to the Diamondbacks in a package Preston Tucker Jersey for Zack Greinke, and would pitch to a 7.79 ERA over 17 1/3 innings in 2021. James would become a relief arm for the Astros, but would deal with injuries in 2021 and 2022. Toro would stick in the lineup for Houston until he was traded in 2021 to the Mariners for Rafael Montero and Kendall Graveman. Emanuel would pitch just 17 2/3 innings for the Astros in 2021 before having to go Tommy John surgery. Coincidentally, the Phillies would claim him off waivers in November 2019, but he has yet to pitch for the team while he's rehabbed. Cesar, now Evan Gattis Jersey 27, has yet to make his major-league debut.MORE:So, all in all, a friendly reminder that prospects are suspects, all. While it was never a guarantee that Harper would have ended up in Houston long-term, the "What If?" remains as the two teams face off in the 2022 Fall Cla sic.