The Chicago White Sox are not leading the league in clubhouse chemistry at the moment.
The South Siders are the talk of Major League Baseball after first baseman Adam LaRoche retired Wednesday, apparently because the White Sox asked him to not bring his 14-year-old son to the ballpark so often.
Instead of accepting the seemingly reasonable request, LaRoche instead walked away from the game, leaving $13 million on the table.
White Sox executive vice president Kenny Williams has defended the clubhouse policy, but LaRoche’s ex-teammates aren’t pleased.
According to multiple reports, the White Sox had what has been labeled a “contentious” players-management meeting about the policy and decision. Those reports indicate Sox pitcher Chris Sale had it out with Williams.
Sources tell me one of the players very upset w/Kenny Williams was Chris Sale. The meeting yesterday was very contentious and Sale spoke up.
— David Kaplan (@thekapman) March 17, 2016
Heard same as @thekapman: In a contentious meeting, Chris Sale absolutely lit up White Sox prez Kenny Williams over Adam LaRoche situation.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 17, 2016
Things got so heated that White Sox players even reportedly considered a boycott of a spring training game.
F-bombs aplenty flew during the White Sox's meeting with Kenny Williams. Players so pissed they considered boycott, as @karlravechespn said.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) March 17, 2016
The biggest issue, though, seems to center around the players’ insistence on Williams staying out of their business, if he’s not going to be in the clubhouse. In fact, FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reported Sale told Williams to get out and stay out.
Sale told Williams, unequivocally, to get out of the clubhouse and stay out, per a source. Williams acknowledges meeting was passionate. 2/2
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) March 17, 2016
It’s likely we haven’t heard the last of this.
Thumbnail photo via Dennis Wierzbicki/USA TODAY Sports Images