Rockies and White Sox make trade with family ties

DENVER -- In a trade of players with big family names in their respective organizations, the Rockies dealt Class A catcher/first baseman Mark Tracy to the White Sox for switch-hitting Double-A outfielder Ken Williams Jr. on Friday.

Tracy, 24, who hit .264 in 41 games last season at Modesto, is son of former Rockies manager Jim Tracy, who resigned in October. Williams, 26, who hit .250 last season at Birmingham, is son of White Sox vice president Kenny Williams, who was promoted to his position recently after 12 seasons as the team's general manager.

Williams was a sixth-round pick in the 2008 MLB First-Year Player Draft and has hit .233 over five Minor League seasons. Tracy, a 22nd-round pick of the Rockies in 2010, has hit .244 over three Minor League seasons.

In another move of interest to both clubs, the White Sox promoted Buddy Bell to vice president and assistant general manager. Bell managed the Rockies from 2000 until late April 2002, and was the first manager to work under Rockies current general manager Dan O'Dowd.