SAN DIEGO — In an unscientific poll of those I believe have a feel for the third base market, the Rangers were viewed as at least a slight front-runner for Anthony Rendon, with the Braves, Dodgers, Nationals and Phillies all looking at the hot corner too.

One executive involved in this market thought if bids were similar, Rendon, raised in Houston, would gravitate to his home state, where the Rangers are motivated to add a star for Year 1 in a new stadium in 2020. Plus, the lack of a state income tax means a contract is worth considerably more in Texas.

But the Dodgers could feel the pressure to exert themselves financially. They want to impact the top of their roster and there is a growing belief that if a Southern California team flexes financially to challenge the Yankees for Gerrit Cole, it will more likely be the pitching-desperate Angels.

Thus, the Dodgers would be focused more on Rendon, with the idea of moving Justin Turner across the diamond to first base.

Nationals owner Mark Lerner said last week that the defending champs cannot afford both Rendon and fellow free agent and Scott Boras client Stephen Strasburg. The sense is that Washington has always felt better about its chances of retaining Strasburg, and this organization has always favored investing big in the rotation over other areas.

However, if the Angels fail to land Cole, they are viewed as serious contenders for Strasburg. And if the Rangers do indeed land Rendon, that is very good for Josh Donaldson.

It would leave, at minimum, three motivated, win-now NL East teams — the Braves, Nationals and Phillies — bidding for Donaldson, and perhaps the Dodgers too. One official involved in this market believed Philadelphia was more than a casual player on Rendon as well.

Once Rendon and Donaldson are off the board, the Cubs — looking to reshuffle their roster and payroll — could have more suitors for Kris Bryant. But his attractiveness is hurt by 1) that there is a lingering service-time grievance that could make him a free agent after next season rather than following 2021, and 2) there are feelings that Bryant’s defense at third base is ordinary enough that he may play himself out of the position.

The Indians are always in listening mode with their players and tend to gather information, often without making trades. But two executives said they believed Cleveland — for payroll management reasons — is motivated to trade Carlos Carrasco or Corey Kluber.

But that will not be easy. Kluber is due $17.5 million in 2020 with an $18 million 2021 option. After averaging 218 innings from 2014 to 2018, Kluber was limited to 35 2/3 innings in 2019 over seven starts with a 5.80 ERA as he dealt with a right ulna fracture. He turns 34 in April. If the Yankees fail to land Gerrit Cole, Kluber could be a Plan B.

Carrasco was limited to 23 games (12 starts) last year when it was revealed he had leukemia. He returned to pitch in September. But he is still in the midst of learning how to balance his medicines and remain strong. He has three years at $37.25 million remaining, plus he receives an additional $1 million assignment bonus if traded. Carrasco turns 33 in March.

Last offseason, the Indians listened on their veteran starters and finally moved Trevor Bauer before the July 31 trade deadline. They may have to do the same again with Carrasco and/or Kluber — letting them rebuild value by pitching well in the first half (if they can). Cleveland has done a terrific job turning over its rotation in recent years with Shane Bieber, Mike Clevinger, Aaron Civale, Zach Plesac and Adam Plutko emerging inexpensively to make Bauer, Carrasco and Kluber more expendable.

As part of the price to go for it now by signing Mike Moustakas to a four-year, $64 million contract, the Reds are locked into a 2023 right side of the infield in which first baseman Joey Votto will be paid $25 million for his age-39 season and second baseman Moustakas will be paid $18 million in his age-34 season.

And if all remains status quo, Moustakas could not be moved back to third because the only other Red signed for 2023 is Eugenio Suarez, who would then be making $11 million in his age-31 season. There could always be trades, or perhaps by 2023 the designated hitter will have come to the National League. For now, though, the Reds are emphasizing today with potential trouble on the horizon.

The agents for Felix Hernandez are listening on their client, but there have been only nibbles so far for the 2010 AL Cy Young winner. The righty turns 34 in April and over the last three seasons is 15-27 with a 5.42 ERA. In that time frame, only one pitcher with 300 innings has a worse ERA-plus than Hernandez’s 76. Another free agent who will have difficulty finding employment: Matt Harvey.