Will the Rangers ever land a big Japanese star?

In their bid to become big-time players in the burgeoning international talent market, the Rangers are doing everything they can to woo 18-year-old Yusei Kikuchi to bypass professional baseball in Japan, stiff-arm a dozen MLB clubs, and sign with Texas. As Jeff Wilson reported, the club sent 22-year-old lefty Derek Holland to Japan along with a delegation of club officials to make a presentation to the young pitcher. It included a video presentation comparing Kikuchi to 18-year-old Japanese golfing sensation Ryo Ishikawa. It was, by all accounts, an inspired and creative presentation. But creativity rarely counts for anything other than entertainment on the international market. There, two things matter: Money and tradition. The Rangers right now are lacking in both.