FRIDAY: Chicago has filed LaRoche’s retirement paperwork, officially leaving three open spots on the club’s 40-man roster, according to MLB.com’s Scott Merkin (via Twitter). Of course, there’s been plenty of other story development since he first left the organization on Tuesday, and you can read it all at LaRoche’s MLBTR tag.
TUESDAY: White Sox DH Adam LaRoche says he will “step away from baseball,” Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune reports (Twitter links). He indicated that he would wait a few days before addressing the matter further, out of respect for his teammates’ request that he think it over, but seemingly made clear he is set on retirement.
That news is notable on multiple levels, particularly as there were no prior indications that the 36-year-old was considering hanging up his spikes. The 12-year-veteran is under contract this year for $13MM, the second and final year of the two-year pact he signed to join the Sox out of free agency.
A respected veteran with a smooth swing and graceful glove at first, LaRoche endured quite a few ups and downs in his career but always seemed to re-emerge. After a promising start to with the Braves, beginning in 2004, he was dealt to the Pirates in advance of the 2007 season. He put up two solid campaigns there before falling off in 2009, when he bounced to the Red Sox and then back to Atlanta — where he finished strong to set up a one-year deal with the Diamondbacks. All told, through his age-30 season in Arizona, LaRoche carried a sturdy .271/.339/.488 slash.
The next chapter of LaRoche’s career began when he signed a two-year, $16MM contract with the Nationals. LaRoche bombed in his first year in D.C. — an injury-riddled, career-worst performance — then bombed in a good way in his second — putting up a .271/.343/.510 batting line with 33 home runs. That set up another two-year deal with D.C. in free agency, with his final two seasons with the Nats once again following the down-up pattern. LaRoche again visited the open market, with a qualifying offer weighing him down for a second time, and ultimately went to the White Sox for two years and $25MM.
LaRoche scuffled last year for Chicago, though he wasn’t alone in that regard. Over 484 plate appearances, he slashed just .207/.293/.340 and hit a dozen home runs — well off of the production levels that earned him that contract. Most worryingly, perhaps, his strikeout rate shot up to 27.5% and LaRoche struggled to get anything going against opposing southpaws. While he’s turned things around before, he was certainly a major question mark heading into 2016. It didn’t help that he’s been limited by back issues this spring.
From the team’s perspective, parting with LaRoche on its own accord surely at least had to be considered. Melky Cabrera profiles better as a designated hitter than a corner outfielder, and looks like the most likely option to slide into LaRoche’s presumed role as the primary DH. Of course, that would leave Avisail Garcia back in primary duties in one outfield corner, perhaps platooning with J.B. Shuck or Daniel Fields, and that may not be optimal.
While LaRoche’s career is worth celebrating on its own accord, the financial elements cannot be ignored. It’s unclear at present whether LaRoche will recoup any of the $13MM he was set to earn, but even a significant chunk of that amount would represent a huge boon to the team’s payroll flexibility. There aren’t any obvious, big-ticket free agents to spend it on — unless Chicago wants to replace him directly with Justin Morneau or add a veteran such as Marlon Byrd — but it’s certainly plausible to imagine the South Siders revisiting trade talks for a player such as Andre Ethier or Jay Bruce. Alternatively, of course, the club could wait and prepare to deploy those reserves at the deadline.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
First reaction was I hope everything is ok with his family. Gotta respect his decision to walk away from 13 million.
But now we have 13 million to spend
Cool, have fun with Tim Lincecum.
Ugh, You do not make a bad move after recouping a bit from another bad move..
No, we have enough questionable 6th starter types
Because Lincecum will be the best player available on the trade market this summer?
The trade market this summer will be laughable unless you want to give up serious prospects for a non-rental you’ll have into 2017.
They will have to buy him out. You probably 10 mil to spend.
I’m pretty sure if he retires, they don’t have to buy out anything.
I think you are pretty right. I doubt the Sox have to pay him anything, unless there is some clause about a minimal bonus for coming to Spring training, which I doubt.
Adam Laroche may think about retiring, but he is no fool. The Sox will either have to give him a multi-million dollar “severance package”, or pay the $13 million to watch his baseball skills continue to erode on the bench.
It is pretty admirable what Laroche and Cuddyer have done.
Curious. What about it do you find admirable?
Isn’t it Obvious? Not accepting a paycheck you no you cant earn.
*know
Well I do admire the fact that when a player knows he’s done, he doesn’t bother wasting anyone’s time and the team’s money. Make no mistake though, there is still a payout. Cuddyer didn’t earn his full 2016 salary, but the Mets did buyout his contract. I’m guessing the same will happen with LaRoche if he does what Cuddyer did. Gil Meche comes to mind with a player I really respected for his decision. He was under contract for the full season and was not expected to pitch at all as he was recovering from an injury and walked away leaving easy money on the table.
I don’t think that admirable even a little bit. I see it as a pride thing, but not admirable. If anything about that is admirable is the fact that they choose retire in the face of it being “the wrong thing to do.”
Other examples.. Wayne Garland left 5y of his 10y deal and all the remaining cash, then nearly 1m which was a huge amount for a ball player.
I’d like to see some contract sitter, like Carl Crawford, or BJ Upton leave just go away and return money to their respective teams rather than guys who have produced recently.
What about the first few years where they all earned far less than what they’re worth? Should the teams cut them a check?
He wasted 13.5 million dollars last year and he was done. Thanks. The other shame comes from their front office for signing the old has been. NO ACCOUNTABILITY!
wow, Wayne Garland. That’s some nice recall.
Hey DoolittleDoolate, bet you wish Crisp and Butler would do this same move, huh?
Wouldn’t complain 🙂
Lol I feel ya man
Well, I guess Avi will get another full season to try to prove himself. Much rather see that than LaRoche.
I think Avi is doing a good job trying to keep his job. A few tweaks in his stance and approach and he is hitting better. Now, will that translate to the regular season? Who knows, but I do know they have an option to send him to the minors if he does not improve though.
What should occur is Melky as DH and maybe another OF, maybe a bad contract for a bad contract in Danks (since Danks has not taken the hint to retire yet). Maybe for Either and cash back?
Windfall for the White Sox. Technically, Laroche retired last season…ba dum tss. Morneau on a bargain basement k?
He’s an old bum. Stay away from him. But, knowing the sox they’ll waste more money on him.
If Morneau costs them next to nothing to take a chance on, I fail to see the downside.
Morneau’s put up some good numbers, its all about the injury risk. He’s only had one year under 100 OPS+ in the past 6/7 years. Seems like a good fit at DH, backup 1B.
Argh, Morneau out until mid season with elbow surgery… oh well.
Can he do better than a .207 avg and 12 homers (i.e. what LaRoche did last season)? If yes, then he is an upgrade…’bum’ or not, specifically if they get him for a bargain price.. Otherwise Im guessing many of the lefty batter rookies in the Sox org could like exceed what LaRoche did last season and for a LOT less.
Justin Morneau?
Wow!
So do the white sox now go for a guy like Morneau?! I bet they wish he would have decided that before Alvarez signed with the O’s..
Morneau’s miles better than Alvarez, if you need someone to actually play 1B as opposed to DH. This seems like a no-brainer, if Justin’s at all healthy.
I agree, sox need to get on base %, not strike outs
He would be an obvious platoon partner at DH with a right hander like Avisail. Most likely the White Sox will wait and see if Jerry Sands can fill that role. And lets be honest…the White Sox will keep this money and say “it’s spending money later in the year”. And when they’re in last at the deadline, they can just pocket the cash. Classic Reinsdorf. I don’t know anyone would expect anything but this scenario.
I disagree with the assessment that Melky Cabrera would shift to DH. He’s still a million times better in the outfield than Avisail, who isn’t even guaranteed a job.
IMO Cabrera is a switch hitter who’s bat would be far more valuable in the DH role than the OF at this point (and no need to platoon him for others guys in that role) and likely would still see some time in the OF anyway and they know he can DH from last season whereas not sure CGarcia can handle DH (and the Sox have seen plenty of players in the DH role who could not produce). Jackson plays CF, Eaton to LF, and Garcia back out there, for now (as long as his bat comes back with him to Chicago). Would not be surprised to see if the Sox take a chance on a guy like Eithier (Trade Danks for Eithier and cash), or revisit the Rockies to see what it will take to get CarGo again.
Finally in later innings of most Sox games I doubt you will see the OF that started the game being out there anyway.
What?
Being able to switch hit has nothing to do with effectiveness at a position. Avisail is simply not a major league quality outfielder. On the defensive end – the only end that matters in determining if you should be there.
Avisail needs to prove he can hit to survive. Saying you’re not sure Avi can handle DH is redundant. He hasn’t shown he can defend OR hit in the majors. At least by putting him in the mix to DH you can minimize the worse half of his at bats with a platoon and completely zero out his bad defense.
It has everything to do when you are a DH and a switch hitter. It makes it far easier to keep your DH in the game regardless of a lefty righty match up. Whereas in the OF Cabrera is a bit of a liability., Garcia is too but he is a righty hitter. Could he platoon with someone as DH? maybe. However can he even handle being DH? Cabrera proved he could, Garcia looked lost all last season. If one has watched the Sox for the past 5 years one would know you need a guy who can DH, not just take a flyer on a guy hoping he can even though he never has in the past. For you to take a guy scuffling with the bat and solely make him DH without knowing first if he can DH is a major mistake and can ruin a player. If anything if Garcia cannot pull his weight he should be dumped to the minors (he has an option left), not DH. In any case, if they do not get another DH/1st base type, like a Morneau, then we will likely see both Cabrera and Garcia at DH throughout the season.
I wish he would have told us that 3 months ago. Maybe made a better run at cespedes.
That offer would have been one year, $13 million. Don’t kid yourself.
Wow. So do they go after Morneau? I bet they wish he would have decided that earlier before Alvarez signed with the O’s.. Or do you believe in Avi Garcia to step up?!
I think you guys are shooting too low………..It just so happens that Jay Bruce is scheduled to make $12 mil in 2016, with a $1 mil buyout for 2017 (if it doesn’t turn out well)…….Bruce may not be the stud that he used to be, but he’s WAY better than LaRoche…….just need to find a prospect that the Reds like.
I actually wouldn’t doubt if they had something in the hopper, waiting to see if the Sox could clear some salary. I bet they pay LaRoche some part of his salary (like the Mets did with Cuddyer)
I think at this point with all the prospects they traded, they’re most likely to stick with what they have or try to sign Morneau for cheap, I don’t see them trading right now, but who knows anything could happen?
I don’t want Bruce at all he’s trending the wrong way and had an OBS under 300 which is the last thing the Sox need, seems like thats why the team has been so bad for almost 10 years now. I say shoot for the moon and go after Blackmon with Cargo as consolation prize.
The guy hit 26 HR’s last year, and was less than a year past major knee surgery! There’s a ton of talent there still………If the idea is to “patch it up and spend at the deadline”…..then go in another direction. Bruce is going to rebound this year……..check with me at the end of June for “a review”………..lol
I hope so, he was great before the injury. But thats way to much risk to take on with so many question marks already onthis team. Its not like the Sox have a history of players coming over from the NL and flurishing in a DH, 1B or OF role.
I admire him for the decision. GREAT NEWS!!
I commend him for not taking up a roster spot and sucking all season…wish more players would do that at the end of their careers rather then holding on for dear life w/ dilousional rebound exectations….
I commend them too, but I can’t fault someone from for wanting to play major league baseball as long as possible. Hard to put ourselves in their shoes. Most people would give their arm and leg just for one at bat. Add to it that these guys have done nothing else in their lives.
I suppose at some point you’ve made all the money you’ll ever need and watching kids grow up means more than staring at hotel ceilings 6 months a year.
Best move the sox made all off season.
I think it’s a pretty classy act myself. Just wish Matt Garza would do the same in Milwaukee at some point.
Avi, Ajax, and Eaton in the outfield with Melky as DH doesn’t look bad at all 😉
1. WOW… I did not see this coming.
2. Why did the Braves even trade LaRoche prior to the 2007 season? I don’t get it.
They trade him to Pittsburg for LHP Mike Gonzalez who had closer experience and was a big part of their bullpen for a fee seasons(memory could be off) and they also had Texeria to play 1st base so LaRoche was not needed
Sorry for the spelling errors and poor grammar. Yikes
Wow. That’s a shock.
Sounds like a perfect landing spot for Ryan Howard.
One can only hope man
Yes he needs to retire too
The baseball gods have surely blessed the White Sox! Now the team has to decide what to do as a result of their favor with plenty of good options available from their current inventory of players as well as the additional financial windfall to acquire others from outside the organization.
1-Make switch-hitting LF Melky Cabrera the teams regular DH while sliding Adam Eaton over to LF. Eaton is still recovering from minor October surgery on his throwing arm but is scheduled to begin playing the OF next week in Cactus League action. He has been taking reps in the OF during batting practice throughout the spring so the situation with his arm is presumably one of added caution rather than of great concern. Eaton himself has been amenable to a switch to the corner with LF being his preferred position. Avisail Garcia would then remain the regular RF or platoon with a left-handed hitting option such as J.B. Shuck.
2-Make Avisail Garcia the regular DH and backup OF, keep Cabrera in LF and slide Eaton to RF.
3-Keep the status quo and replace Adam LaRoche with Justin Morneau who would become the primary DH versus left-handed starting pitching and the backup first baseman.
4-Use the $13M is savings and apply it towards a trade for one of the many corner OF’s the White Sox have reportedly been connected to this offseason including ones with higher AAV’s like left-handed hitting power hitters like Carlos Gonzalez, Andre Ethier, Jay Bruce and Josh Reddick or right-handed hitting Ryan Braun. Garcia, still just 24-years old and with 4 more years of arb-eligible team control, might be a potential return asset going back in a package, especially to a non-contender like the Rockies, Reds or Brewers.
In hindsight, it’s too bad the White Sox had to include Micah Johnson in their three team trade to acquire Todd Frazier. Johnson was the organization’s best lead-off hitter but had issues defensively at 2B and was relegated to playing that position only due to elbow surgery. He could have been an option as a lead-off hitting DH and might have solved the White Sox chronic issue with the #2 spot in their batting order with Eaton dropping down to the 2-hole, something “Spanky” has also professed a preference for.
Sad to hear he has to retire…..BUT GREAT NEWS FOR THE WHSOX!!!
I feel a bit guilty that I jumped out of my seat when I heard this news.
Yeah, should not feel this good to see a guy have to hang em up, but what a load off the Sox shoulders AND bonus cash to fill the roster spot as well.
I see a few scenarios:
-Get Morneau (only if really cheap) as a 1b/DH and Cabrera occasionally as DH
-Move Cabrera to DH and Trade for CarGo
-Move Cabrera to DH and Trade Danks for Eithier and cash and pick up someone to fill Danks’ spot (heck Erik Johnson could make up for a guy with a mid 4 ERA and a .500 record) –then you rid yourself of Danks Albatross contract and get the Dodgers to pay for most of Eithier’s
I like the optimism, but the Dodgers aren’t taking Danks. And Erik Johnson doesn’t really have the quality of stuff you expect from a pitcher to be successful in the majors. I don’t want to be too down on him, but expecting that production is a bit unrealistic.
Expecting a mid-4’s ERA is unrealistic? I’m going to have to disagree with that.
My thoughts exactly. Wouldn’t mind any of those moves, though it would be nice to get Melky out of the outfield. Wouldn’t hate Jay Bruce either. They were already apparently looking for a left-handed power bat when they signed AJax, that need just gets even bigger w/o LaRoche.
“LaRoche again visited the open market, with a qualifying offer weighing him down for a second time, and ultimately went to the White Sox for two years and $25MM.”
This seems to be saying that the Nationals made LaRoche a qualifying offer last offseason, which is something that did not occur.
According to the pattern of his career, LaRoche was hopefully due for an up year this season. I hope all is well with him and thank him for his work with the Nats.
I woul imagine that the white sox would need to pick up another first baseman. Cant expect abreu to play all 162 games at 1st. Or who else currently projected to play in the majors can handle 1st?
I believe that they should sign Morneau. You cant play Abreu 162 games at 1st. Or who else on the team can handle 1st?
On another note, i wonder how sincere the white sox front office was in trying to convince Laroche not to retire
Wish Adam could have helped the white sox out earlier when notable assets were available. Either way glad he is gone. This will allow the white sox to remove a defensive liability while inserting more depth to slot into other spots around the diamond.
Yeah, but I think people forget that LaRoche’s contract was only for one more year. I doubt that Hahn and Company would have ponied up any more for Cespedes, Fowler, or Upton.
Imagine if LaRoche figured this out last November, how close was Chicago away from Cespedes, Gordon, et al again? If it was less than $10M then LaRoche screwed the Sox pretty bad.
Excellent point!……But I’d bet that he had a revelation after 2 weeks of Spring Training…..
Not really. LaRoche had only one more year of his salary, If the Sox really wanted to pay for those guys they would have, and I doubt LaRoche’s late decision stopped the Sox from going after a big FA this season. As for the other guys I think it was clear the Sox did not want to part with a draft pick (albeit supplemental) for a 1 yr rental.
I don’t think you understand just how strapped the Sox are for payroll with Jerry at the helm and being 2nd fiddle in their own market.. This money (Presumably 10 million plus) would have been massive for the Sox to have free this season, especially considering the Ian Desmond situation.
I understand more than you think. Now, while they may try to use that as an excuse for not going harder after those guys, it is not the reason. Trust me, I have been watching the Sox for 25 years. If JR really wanted to win they could go for it and LaRoche’s ONE year left for 13 mil would not have made it easier or harder to sign someone..As for Desmond, Desmond was not coming here for the Sox to lose their comp pick for a 1 year rental.. Period. Anderson is almost ready barring an unforeseen setback.
Yeah i agree that cespedes or upton would have signed here because Jerry wasn’t willing to meet there price tag. I do think fowler or desmond would have been options that we may have landed if laroche retired earlier. I’m glad we still have our draft picks in place. I wouldn’t mind signing some pitchers and morneau to minor league deals or very low base salaries for depth. Trades definitely can still happen.
Quintana for scwarber and who ever else..win win for both teams
A #2 starter for DH? Pass.
THIS
“And who ever else” meaning any combo of Contreras,soler,Baez,haap, McKinney. You’re right scwarber is a dh all the way and not a even trade but a combo of those players or whoever else you might want to add is. The trade helps both teams alot and we can afford to lose quintana seeing how pitching is our strength
Soler is a walking injury (and likely also destined to be a DH), Baez (and one could argue Schwarber) is a walking strikeout, Contreras, Haap, and McKinney… who?! A bunch of minor leagues likely years away from even looking like they could be major league players? Or are you talking about getting all of those players for Quintana (which likely would not occur either)
Pitching is a strength for the Sox? I’m sorry, did I miss the Sox pulling of a trade for a 4th and 5th starter I am unaware of? Danks, Latos, and Johnson are hardly a strength.. Sounds a lot like a Cubs fan who wants Quintana. I agree that the Sox really do not give him a lot of run support (though hopefully that changes this season), but I fail to see how trading a #2 type pitcher helps the Sox compete in any way this season or even next.
I’d happily take a package of minor leaguers. It might not help the Sox win right away, but it’d help fill a lot of holes going forward.
That being said, it’d take a LOT to make it worthwhile for the Sox to trade Quintana.
If they came in and offered Schwarber, Baez, Contreras, and one of their backend pitchers (like Hendricks or something?), that’d be VERY hard to pass up, even if it doesn’t really help the Sox win this year. There’s too much potential there to not think HEAVILY about it.
Now I don’t believe the Cubs would make an offer like that, but that’s about what it’d take to pry away Quintana. The Sox have absolutely no reason to trade him, especially with that contract.
The Sox will not tear anything down, this is not the Chicago fan base that accepts a plan for losing for 4 years.
You cannot trade Quintana, at least not before the season starts (because no team will ‘trade the farm’ now). Now, if the Sox are basement dwellers again (which is very possible with Ventura at the helm still) in late May/June, then I can see Q being shopped in June/July, The guys you list though just are not that good (they have not shown anything yet), and more importantly all position players. IMO the Cubs (or any team) would need to give up one-two upper level prospect starting pitchers and one-two upper prospect position players for the Sox to even contemplate trading Q.
You’re right, those band-wagoners would bail at the first hint of sucking.
You had me laughing at fan base, you mean those people who attack the opposing teams first base coach?
That was a Cubs fan actually that did that. Just so happened to be down on the Southside.
Cmon…bandwagon…crap man you can’t even troll without talking about Cubs fans. Team sold out the tourist trap even when the they were intentionally tanking. Nothing says bandwagon like a bus load in from Iowa.
I guess the guy that ripped off a LA Dodger cap of a player that started a brawl in the stands at Wrigley was a saint then?
Drunk fans do stupid stuff, and in many venues. How many streakers and other knobs get out on the field in many different parks and have plenty of time to attack someone?
What are you guys talking about? Have you not seen the Sox at all this spring. #4 Danks has been shelled 3 times. Jacob Turner who was suppose to have a shot for the rotation has been bombed and so has Eric Johnson. all have ERA’s over 13.00. I don’t want to hear it is the thin air. Meanwhile Latos pitches in the back field at Camelback like the wizzard behind the curtain. This can not be good. Let’s trade Quintana one of our three starting pitchers. Are you brain dead? Like the talking head mopes on the sports shows wondering what bat we will go after. Take the $13 million and find one or two starting pitchers., because if you do not have someone good in these slots it won’t matter what bats you get.
My favorite team a are the white Sox and who ever plays the cubs, so that should tell you who my allegiance is to
. All I’m saying is I’m ready for a tear down and i’m still mad about not trading szmarjdia last summer when teams were giving up a kings ransom for pitchers. We should have traded him and one of out bullpen guys and restocked our farm team. I love Jose and wouldn’t want to see him go but why not move him? The cubs have one of the few farm systems just waiting to be picked apart and everyone knows the can still use a #2/3 type. If we can find our lefty DH to replace laroche and a possible catcher of the future along with a possible starting OF or 2 and a infielder..all those players mentioned are top 100 prospects and to get 3 -4 of them would be a blessing. But its just wishfull thinking I know.
What other move would you like seen done if not moving quintana? No was is this team a potential WS team right now. We need to do something.
What moves? They should have gotten Cespedes, maybe make a run at Zimmerman to A) get a good pitcher, and B) keep him out of Detroit’s hands. But the Sox Management is too stingy. That they got Todd Frazier for a middling group of prospects (though I still think Thompson could be a good OF) could be Hahn’s finest hour to be honest (next to hopefully extending said Frazier to a long term deal).
Also the Sox will not tear anything down. It is bad enough KW and his ego complain that fans not showing up is the main reason why they cannot field a competitive team (and not that his club has not been consistently good since, well forever, at least 10 years. and one could argue that was luck on KWs part)
I do agree that Samardzija should have been gone the minute he had his 3rd good start before the trade deadline as it was obvious that he wanted out of town, but you also need someone someone to trade with and no one wanted Samardzija for half a season, not for what I’m sure the Sox wanted.
You cannot trade Quintana, at least not right now. If the Sox are basement dwellers again (which is very possible with Ventura at the helm still) in late May early June, then I can see Q going somewhere in June/July, but it will need to be for a lot and many teams are not going to give up a lot for him, even with his great record (ERA wise, and being in a bandbox half of his games and a whopping 32 no decisions in the past 3 seasons), at least not at the beginning of the season.
Tribune reports that Kenny Williams asked Adam to not have his teenage son in the clubhouse, right before he quit.
here’s the link
chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/ct-ada…
chicagotribune .com
and then type
/sports/baseball/whitesox/ct-adam-laroche-drake-clubhouse-20160316-story.html
Kid should have been out of the Locker Room/Clubhouse long ago. Good decision and good riddance to ladunn if this is really the main reason why he quit. Can’t imagine how much it had to mess with grown men last year having to mind their manners around a middle schooler all the time instead of worrying about the game and expressing their real emotions, good or bad because of said kid.
So if Adam LaRoche retires, does this mean he will also be a special assistant to the Braves GM?
You guys are weird. Kids/Teens don’t belong in a locker room b/c its inappropriate or there may be some rough language? Have any of you ever been to a gym or a golf course country club?
Athletes have their kids with them all the time, especially during pre-season and spring training. Which probably would have been his last or one of his last seasons as a pro, he brought his kid along with him every day? I mean I don’t know, but I doubt he’s doing it during the season.
The general word going around was the kid was there ALL THE TIME last season, home and away games and had his own locker.. There are kids that visit and go or visit for a game but then there is this kid who apparently was treated like a member of the team, or a mascot. That is just wrong and speaks to how mismanaged the Sox are.
Yea, but if he hit 25 HRs last year instead of 12 HRs Kenny Williams has no issue with it. Am I wrong? If it was his 14 yr old daughter, I could see a point. It’s a 14 yr old son. Other players have their kids frequently in the clubhouse and at games during the year. From the USA Today Article: “Times are different. You see kids all the time in clubhouses, most of whom are at least 10. Prince Fielder has his sons frequently hanging with him during summer home games with the Texas Rangers. You see Victor Martinez’s son sitting alongside him in the Detroit Tigers clubhouse.”
People with non-chain restaurants or even nail salons always have their kids there, usually in the back or in a back booth. Especially ones with deeper family values, like Asian families – 1st hand experience.
Yes, because the general assumption seems to be that KW asked for the kid to be gone, which is not true. He simply asked to reduce the number of times the kid is around the team. What LaRoche wanted is something that is typically not done in the majority, if not all, locker rooms in sports, which is having your kid shadow you on the road and at home having your own locker.
Now, supposedly there was some unwritten rule that allow LaRoche to do this, but I seriously doubt, if KW knew about it, that he understood the extent of what was being asked or assumed that Hahn explained there are limitations to what the Sox will allow. The guy that really should be explaining himself here, Rick Hahn (presumably the guy who signed LaRoche), has not said anything since this broke..
The narrative is that there was an agreement before he signed, he had a very similar thing with the Nationals too.
ESPN… did I literally just hear the Imperial March in the background during your interview with Kenny Williams of the White Sox in regards to LaRoche retiring b/c of family issues? LOL
Yes, yes you did and I got a chuckle out of that as well (it apparently was at the stadium playing in the background) KW was trying to explain that he did not say that LaRoche could not have his kid around, but wanted to have him cut back on the amount of time his son is around (he has his own locker/kiosk for crying out loud) but I’m sure the Imperial march playing in the background did not help KWs cause.