New White Sox GM Rick Hahn’s first move: Trade Kenny Williams Jr.
On Thursday, Rick Hahn made his first notable transaction since taking over as the general manager of the Chicago White Sox a week ago. Chicago traded Kenny Williams Jr. to the Colorado Rockies for first baseman Mark Tracy. Under any normal circumstances it would be considered a small move, but it is interesting to note that Williams Jr. is the son of former White Sox GM Ken Williams.
Williams Sr. is now the the White Sox executive VP. Chicago drafted his son in the sixth round in 2008, a move that contributed to the former GM’s relationship with former manager Ozzie Guillen becoming strained. Guillen thought his son, Ozney, should have been drafted higher in a later draft.
Both Williams Jr. and Tracy played in the minors last season. Whether the move was the best one for the team or not, it has to hurt Williams Sr. that his son is now gone from the organization a mere week after he left his position as GM. I guess professional baseball truly is nothing more than a business.