Rollins: White Sox clubhouse was 'in disarray' last spring

As veteran infielder Jimmy Rollins enters his 18th major-league season, he's unlikely to endure a weirder spring training than that of last year's sideshow in Chicago.

Now a member of the San Francisco Giants, Rollins reflected on his time in Chicago on Wednesday, particularity an incident that took place in March when veteran slugger Adam LaRoche announced his sudden retirement after White Sox vice president Kenny Williams restricted his 14-year-old son Drake from being around the clubhouse.

"The clubhouse (was) in disarray after that point," Rollins told Courtney Cronin of the Mercury News.

Rollins added: "Maybe my third day there and the funny part was, when Adam came in, I had just went to the bathroom, so I didn't hear anything, and I came out and they're like he's retiring, and I'm like 'Why's everybody so sad?' You celebrate a guy retiring. He's had a great career and he's made a decision. Then I found out why and then (it was) chaos."

LaRoche forfeited $13 million with his decision to retire, but was adamant he stood by his choice. The result turned a number of players against the front office - most notably Chris Sale - though Rollins notes many of the players that took exception to the decision now find themselves in new homes.

"I think just because the way it was handled, that a lot of the guys that were outspoken are no longer there," Rollins said. "There in better places if you ask me, but they're no longer there."