One reader was curious what Johnson told Loverro about the end of his Nationals tenure, and, well, we like to help out our readers. Loverro told Johnson that he never exactly understood why he stepped away after the 2013 season — a decision that was announced before the season even began, and one that may have contributed to World Series or Bust and all that phrase engendered.

“Well, it was really pretty easy,” Johnson explained. “When I signed the contract to manage in 2013, not only did we negotiate the contract, but I also had to agree with the club that I wouldn’t be managing past that year. And actually, Thom, I had to put that in writing. I put it in writing that I wouldn’t. Fine, I didn’t have a problem. I don’t know why you want it in writing, but I’ll be glad to say I won’t manage past 2013.

“But I did put it in writing, and sent it off to them, and that was the deal. So everybody knew in Washington that was my last year. I was a little upset, because we lost three left-handers and we didn’t get some left-handers over the winter. We lost three good left-handers, and I felt like we were short in the bullpen side. But it was my last year, the club made decisions, and it was fine with me. I mean, shoot, 70 years old, fine. There was no problem with me. I was thankful that the Lerner family and [Mike] Rizzo gave me the opportunity to help put ’em on the map. So it was no problem.”

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This information was mostly reported at the time. The Post reported in November 2012 that both sides were “in agreement” that 2013 would be Johnson’s final season. And Adam Kilgore wrote in February that Johnson had put it in writing early in the 2013 offseason. (“Heck, I thought last year was going to be my last year,” Johnson said then. “I take it one day at a time.”) Tom Boswell later reported that Johnson had considered quitting in July of 2013 when his hitting coach got fired.

The former manager, incidentally, still follows the Nats, said Dusty Baker has “done a great job” with the club, and said “I love what I’m seeing” this season.

“You know, [Mike] Rizzo’s the best general manager in baseball,” Johnson added, unprompted. “He’s done a great job. He’s kept the minor leagues intact, and they’re going to keep feeding the big leagues. You know, I think it’s a great organization. I think mainly under Rizzo’s guidance, they’ve kept the thing going, and they’re going to keep building. But I think the Lerners are very fortunate to have a guy like Rizzo in there. … Riz is a really smart man. And he came up the right way. He was a player, he became a scout, he did all that stuff. He’s a good judge of talent, and he’s smart, you can talk to him. And he has done a great job for them. They’re lucky to have him.”

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Johnson — Bryce Harper’s first big-league manager — also talked about the down season from the former MVP.

“First thing is all the press and everything is talking about [a] $500 million [contract]; it’s putting too much pressure on him,” Johnson said, “because you can’t equate dollars to performance, and I think he quit enjoying the game as much as he loved to play the game. He’s a great talent; he’ll come out of it. … But I think he just needs to keep enjoying the game. With all that press, I think it became more about the future and not about the present, you follow me?

“Because I was reading about $400 million, $500 million, instead of just going and playing and loving the game. He’s a great talent, he’s got great parents, I love the guy, and I just want him to enjoy it. When I first had him, I told him, ‘I just want you to have fun, just have fun and enjoy your talent,’ and that’s what he needs to do. Sometimes when you expect too much of yourself, you try to do too much, and I think that’s what happened to him. If he just has fun and expresses his talent, he’ll be fine.”

Either way, Johnson will be tuning in. You can put it in writing.

“I love watching them,” he said. “I’ve got the baseball channel. I watch every game. It’s fun for me. That’s kind of my baseball fix.”