LaRoche, Williams at odds over son's presence in clubhouse

Adam LaRoche raised plenty of eyebrows when he decided Tuesday to "step away" from baseball with another year and $13 million left on his contract with the Chicago White Sox, and it now appears he didn't leave the club on good terms.

LaRoche decided to retire after White Sox president Ken Williams told him he could no longer bring his 14-year-old son into the clubhouse, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Williams, however, denied banning LaRoche's son, Drake, from the clubhouse, and merely asked his designated hitter to "dial it back."

"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.'" Williams said.

"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."

On Tuesday, it was reported that the 36-year-old was parting ways with the White Sox due to a "personal issue," but Williams categorically rejected that characterization.

"It's not even close to being personal," Williams said. "I respect the man and the father that (LaRoche) is."

He added: "Sometimes you have to make decisions in this world that are unpopular. I've been unpopular before."

Though it appears LaRoche has signed his retirement papers, according to MLB.com's Scott Merkin, the club hasn't sent them in, giving the 36-year-old a chance to reconsider. On Tuesday, LaRoche insisted he was confident in his decision, though he said he'll "give it a day or two" before "finish(ing) the story."