The Washington Nationals are considering naming Wilson Ramos their Opening Day starter, two sources close to Bill Ladson of MLB.com are saying.  With that, the team may make future Hall of Famer Ivan Rodriguez a trade candidate.

“Ramos is going to be one of the better catchers in baseball as we go through the next 10 years,” the source said. “Physically, he is a bull. [He has a] good arm, he gets rid of the ball, he has power. He has a wonderful disposition. When the opponents score runs, he gets mad.

“He is better than what I expected, because I didn’t know the ball jumps off his bat like that. I heard he could catch and throw. I heard he could hit. He has hit the hardest line drives that a person can hit. With the more playing time he gets, I think he is going to be that much better.”

If the Nationals decide to make Rodriguez available, is it possible that the Houston Astros could make a play for the veteran backstop?  The team lost Jason Castro to a season-long injury.  Rodriguez has had long ties to the state of Texas and it would give him an offensive boost in hitter-friendly Minute Maid Park.

The 39-year-old Rodriguez is signed through the 2011 season for $3 million.