The Nationals’ new acquisition, center fielder Adam Eaton, walks unrecognized through the halls during Winterfest last weekend in Washington. (Bill O'Leary/Washington Post)

Say hello to Adam (Spanky) Eaton. Start saying goodbye to Bryce Harper. They’re connected.

Remember how the Nationals “moved on” from Ian Desmond and Jordan Zimmermann when, two years before they became free agents, the Nats decided they probably couldn’t sign either to a long-term extension? One day, Desmond and Zimmermann were important pieces of the Nationals’ future. The next, they were replaced, even though they were still team fixtures in the present.

That’s probably what’s happening to Harper now.

In Eaton, the Nats just got a first-rate outfielder for the next five years. At bat, on the bases and in defensive value, Eaton is comparable to what Anthony Rendon provides at third base. Eaton’s first two years in Washington probably will be as a solid center fielder. But his real knack is right field, where last year he graded as one of the best at any position. And that’s where he would fit on the 2019, 2020 and 2021 rosters if Victor Robles, 19, approximates his elite-prospect status and takes over in center field.

Where does that leave Harper? Probably in some other city.

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Maybe that’s why his one-word tweet reaction to the Eaton deal was “Wow.” And perhaps why he didn’t show up for Winterfest last weekend.

[Who exactly is Adam Eaton? A closer look at the newest Nat]

Last week, USA Today wrote that Nationals executives were annoyed that Harper (or someone in his camp) mentioned “$400 million for 10 years.” Who knows? But such numbers show how impossible it is for the Nats and Harper to talk a deal now — or any time soon. Harper was too great in 2015 and too dreary in 2016 to put a price on his next dozen years. By the time the picture is clearer, Harper (and agent Scott Boras) will be much too close to free agency to do anything except test the waters.

It’s nobody’s fault. But it means that Harper is where Desmond and Zimmermann were — extremely likely to leave. So the Nats have to make “move on” decisions.

Nobody in baseball can “value” Harper right now. Is he worth $150 million or $500 million? The last five months of 2016, he hit .231, was helpless against heat in his kitchen, fouled off “his” pitch constantly and could handle pitches only on a diagonal from up-and-away to low-and-in. Harper has had no postseason surgeries, so he wasn’t significantly injured. In a way, that really hurts.

Excluding 2015, in Harper’s four seasons with the Nats he has averaged 453 at-bats, 73 runs, 20 homers, 59 RBI, a .264 average and .813 on-base-plus-slugging percentage. In his six years as a Nat, Jayson Werth has averaged 452 at-bats, 69 runs, 17 homers, 61 RBI, .267 average and .795 OPS. That’s the same player. But in his “other” year, Harper was Ted Williams.

How do you make a “career” offer to such a player at such a time? You don’t. And you don’t paralyze your franchise waiting for an answer. Is it possible that someday, as happened with Stephen Strasburg, Harper will call Boras and say he really wants to stay in the District? It happened once. But you don’t wait by the phone. You sign Eaton. You plan a long-term future without Harper.

The Nats aren’t complicated. Owner Ted Lerner and GM Mike Rizzo are fair-minded but hardheaded. They leave the door open until one day, sorry, the door is closed. They’re not mysterious. What they will do in the future is what they did in the past.

For example: The Nats traded valuable chips for shortstop prospect Trea Turner and two years’ control of veteran Yunel Escobar (1,000 games at shortstop). With Danny Espinosa also available, Desmond was a ghost. In a blink, he had been triplicated. Irreplaceable? Worth more than $107 million? Whaddaya think now?

Desmond had just won three straight Silver Sluggers, was a team leader and had been told by other players that he had a responsibility because his free agent salary would set the bar for all shortstops.

Yet if Desmond had said, “Can we talk?” the Nats would have answered, “Why?”

The Nats also signed Max Scherzer to replace Zimmermann, although both pitched on the 2015 team. Zimmermann won 19 games in 2013, was fifth in Cy Young Award voting in 2014 and was one of the game’s elite pitchers. But the Nats had moved on.

In hindsight, the 2015 Nats were a clubhouse full of ghosts, including Doug Fister and Denard Span. Were feelings hurt, internal bonds loosened? Was that one more factor in a team disintegrating? Do the Nats, in balancing the current budget, “team control” and future rosters, leave their players — right up to a Bryce Harper — feeling expendable?

The Nats want to know, “Do you really want to be here? Will you sign a team-friendly contract far in advance so we can plan our future? Or are you trying to make up your mind or wait for a moment of leverage?”

Ryan Zimmerman and Strasburg said yes. Zimmerman got a $100 million extension that guaranteed him $126 million. Strasburg got a $175 million deal. They took discounts to sign, although not big ones, and in Strasburg’s case accepted deferred money. Right now, at 32, Zimmerman’s career may be sliding. Strasburg ended his season on the disabled list. But they’re set for life.

[Will this be a year of reckoning or redemption for Ryan Zimmerman?]

In every context, from building malls to ballclubs, the Lerners have patterns of doing business. They expect loyalty. They stick to contracts (and hold you to yours.) And they live with the results of those methods.

Maybe Zimmerman has three more 80-RBI seasons in him and Strasburg’s best years are still ahead. Or not. But if a professional team doesn’t have a framework for decision-making, it’s lost. Desmond and Zimmermann ended up signing contracts for $75 million and $110 million. And in a couple of years, Harper’s wallet will be stacked higher than his hair.

Last week, Rizzo said that Eaton “checked all the boxes,” including a less-than-half-of-market-price contract that should give the Nats payroll flexibility. But Rizzo didn’t mention one box that also got checked: Stop worrying about Bryce Harper.

That’s how the Nats operate. It’s logical. It’s a bit chilly. It’s produced lots of regular season wins but no inspired postseasons. Now we will see how the latest episode of “time to move on” plays out.

For more by Thomas Boswell, visit washingtonpost.com/boswell.