Adam LaRoche has decided to step away from the game right now, citing an unspecified family matter. His sudden announcement surprised the Chicago White Sox, and his teammates reportedly tried to talk him out of his decision, to no avail. LaRoche will be walking away from the $13 million left on his contract, so this family matter is very likely an urgent one. At 36 years-old, it means his career is likely done.
LaRoche played thirteen seasons for six teams (one twice), and has 255 career home runs. He topped the twenty-homer mark ten times in his thirteen seasons and had a .260 batting average to go with it. His best season was 2012, when he hit thirty-three home runs and won both a Silver Slugger and Gold Glove with the Nationals. LaRoche’s career was marred by two nightmare seasons: 2011 with the Washington Nationals, when he batted just .172 in forty-three games before a torn labrum ended his season, and the 2015 season. The White Sox signed him as a free agent last year to serve as their designated hitter, and he flopped with a .207 batting average and twelve home runs, which represented a career low (apart from that shortened 2011 campaign).
LaRoche also was the rare player to suit up for three teams in one season. In 2009, the Pittsburgh Pirates dealt him to the Boston Red Sox, who apparently changed their minds just six games later and dealt him to the Atlanta Braves (for whom he had also played previously). He also played for the Arizona Diamondbacks for a season as he moved all around the league.
LaRoche started his career with the Braves as a first-base platoon partner for then-forty-six-year-old Julio Franco (who played a bit in Japan last season – seriously). Baseball-Reference.com lists LaRoche as similar to players like Tony Clark, J.T. Snow, and Matt Stairs. In other words, he had a very fine career.
UPDATE: It was revealed Wednesday that LaRoche chose to retire after White Sox team president Ken Williams told him that he could no longer bring his son, Drake, into the clubhouse. Drake had traveled with his father for a number of years, and LaRoche considered him the teams unofficial mascot.
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