UPDATE: The White Sox reportedly almost boycotted Wednesday's spring training game over LaRoche's son.
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Adam LaRoche's decision to retire earlier this week and leave the Chicago White Sox hanging for the 2016 MLB season puzzled many. The slugger stepped away from $13 million that he was scheduled to earn this upcoming league year, but LaRoche's choice had to do with his family.
White Sox team president Kenny Williams asked LaRoche to limit the amount of time that his 14-year-old son Drake was spending in the clubhouse. It was said that Drake had a locker, a uniform and played the field when the team took batting practice.
Williams and chairman Jerry Reinsdorf believed it to be a bit too intrusive, but LaRoche clearly found it offensive and took a stand.
"[Drake] was [around] 100 percent of the time, every day, and so I asked [LaRoche] just to dial it back," Williams said. "Even 50 percent is probably too much. But there's a wide range between zero and 50 percent so I was a little surprised at the stance he took."
Williams said he "made it perfectly clear" that Drake was welcome to spend time with the team and in the clubhouse, but he felt that his presence wasn't "great" on a daily basis.
Williams' decision to request that of LaRoche is going to be deemed unpopular, but at the same time, he does have a point. Do parents, in any other line of work, take their kids to work every single day? At some point, there obviously needs to be moderation of both allowing children around the team and maintaining privacy among the clubhouse. Williams echoed that sentiment by saying, "one of the things we said coming into this season is 'let's check all the columns' with regards to our preparation, our focus to give us every chance to win."
Then again, White Sox outfielder Adam Eaton said that Drake was helpful in the clubhouse as he spent a lot of his time cleaning cleats, helping out in drills and picking up baseballs.
But then again, LaRoche logged the worst season of his 12-year MLB career in 2015 (his first with the White Sox) when he hit .207/.293/.340 with 41 runs scored 12 home runs and 44 RBI in 127 games.
Whatever the case, LaRoche was asked to reconsider his decision to retire over Williams' request, but at this point it seems as if he's sticking to retirement, as he values family over his work.
