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Adam LaRoche decides to retire after White Sox ask him to reduce son’s time in the clubhouse

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Apparently Adam LaRoche and his teenage son are a package deal.

Told that the Chicago White Sox didn’t want 14-year-old Drake LaRoche hanging around the clubhouse all the time, the elder LaRoche decided it was time to retire from baseball, according to multiple media reports.

In doing so, the 36-year-old slugger is walking away from the final year of a contract that would have paid him $13 million in 2016. While LaRoche has yet to publicly explain Tuesday’s sudden retirement, a tweet by LaRoche on the same day — particularly the hashtag #FamilyFirst — seems to confirm the reports.

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White Sox President Ken Williams told Fox Sports that LaRoche brought his son to the clubhouse every day during the 2015 season, the player’s first with the team. Williams said he did not ban Drake from the clubhouse but just asked to cut back on the young man’s visits.

“There has been no policy change with regards to allowance of kids in the clubhouse, on the field, the back fields during spring training. This young man that we’re talking about, Drake, everyone loves this young man. In no way do I want this to be about him,” Williams said.

“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. 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% of the time — and he has been here 100%, every day, in the clubhouse. I said that I don’t even think he should be here 50% 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?”

It has been a tradition in baseball for sons to accompany their fathers at work, although different clubs have different rules to regulate the practice. Many fellow players have come out in support of LaRoche’s decision.

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“On our side of things, I think everyone would say we enjoyed Drake LaRoche in the clubhouse and everything he brought to the clubhouse,” White Sox outfielder Adam Eaton said. “He helped out around and wasn’t a burden by any stretch of the imagination. He wasn’t a big problem last year either.”

Eaton added: “Adam and Drake are probably the most respected people in baseball I ever played with. Drake would clean cleats. He would help out in drills, pick up baseballs when we needed. He didn’t say boo to anybody and was never a trouble in the clubhouse.”

MLB.com reports that LaRoche has signed his retirement papers but the White Sox are giving him time to reconsider before turning them in to the league office.

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