High-flying Rangers sign rock star

The signing of reliever Kukumori is official.

The non-tendering of Aki Otsuka is official. Means two things: this is C.J. Wilson's closer spot to lose; and if the San Diego/Chris Young trade wasn't a disaster before this, it definitely is now.

Finished also is a trade for Mariners first baseman Ben Broussard. Not only a first baseman, but a rock star.

This has been in the rumor mill since September. And this pretty much eliminates their need for a first baseman like Tony Clark and Mike Lamb.

I like it. I like that they traded for a first baseman rather than overpaying for a free agent stopgap. He's only 31, so he might stick around for a little bit.

He has shown in the past that he can get on base (.370 OGP in 2004), hit for power, drive in some runs. If somehow he can lower the strikeout total, this might be a nice trade.

Sad though: I liked Tug Hulett, but the fact remains that he was probably never going to make it to the majors in Texas with Ian Kinsler here. I ranked him in my personal top 12 Rangers prospects because I liked him so much, but he was actually no where near that.