The family issue behind LaRoche's retirement from White Sox

Chicago White Sox vice president Kenny Williams told the Daily Herald on Wednesday that when Adam LaRoche signed a two-year, $25 million contract before the 2015 season, there was no clause that said his son Drake could be in the clubhouse every day.

Drake LaRoche was there every day, from spring training through the end of last season and again this spring.

Now, he is gone, and so is Adam LaRoche.

Before deciding to abruptly retire on Tuesday, LaRoche met with Williams and was asked to “dial it back” on the family front.

“I asked Adam, said, ‘Listen, our focus, our interest, our desire this year is to make sure we give ourselves every opportunity to focus on a daily basis on getting better,'” Williams told FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal earlier Wednesday. “All I'm asking you to do with regard to bringing your kid to the ballpark is dial it back. I don't think he should be here 100 percent of the time — and he has been here 100 percent, every day, in the clubhouse.

“I said that I don't even think he should be here 50 percent of the time. Figure it out, somewhere in between. We all think his kid is a great young man. I just felt it should not be every day, that's all. You tell me, where in this country can you bring your child to work every day?”

LaRoche met with his teammates at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, Ariz., Tuesday morning to announce his retirement, but was asked to reconsider by everyone from White Sox general manager Rick Hahn to new shortstop Jimmy Rollins.

LaRoche said he'd take a day or two to think about the decision, but he also tweeted: “Thank u Lord for the game of baseball and for giving me way more than I ever deserved!#FamilyFirst,” on Tuesday afternoon.

It has been a bizarre two days around training camp, but LaRoche's retirement actually helps the Sox on two fronts.

First, the 36-year-old designated hitter is coming off a miserable debut season on the South Side. In 127 games, LaRoche posted a .207/.293/.340 hitting line with 12 home runs and 44 RBI.

Second, LaRoche is walking away from $13 million, which is money the White Sox can use to find a better replacement at DH, either now or later in the season.

As Williams said, Drake LaRoche is a great young man, and he was always very respectful about being in the clubhouse.

But in 20-plus years of covering the White Sox, I never saw any players' child with his own uniform and locker, and I never saw any players' child in the clubhouse on a daily basis.

Anyway you look at it, it's hard to fault Williams and the White Sox on this one.