March 18--REPORTING FROM PHOENIX -- Chicago White Sox ace Chris Sale blasted executive vice president Ken Williams on Friday, saying Williams had lied to the players in the debacle that led designated hitter Adam La Roche to announce his abrupt retirement.
"Somebody walked out of these doors the other day, and it was the wrong guy, plain and simple," Sale said.
Williams said he had asked La Roche not to bring his 14-year-old son, Drake, into the clubhouse every day. In what became a heated team meeting, Sale said, Williams told "three different stories" about the reasoning for keeping the teenager out.
"He came to the players, and said it was the coaches," Sale said. "He went to the coaches and said it was the players. Then he came in here and told us it was the owners. We're not exactly sure where it came from."
Added Sale: "We got bald-faced lied to by someone we're supposed to be able to trust."
La Roche issued a statement Friday, saying Williams first asked him to "significantly scale back" his son's time in the clubhouse.
"Later, I was told not to bring him to the ballpark at all," La Roche said.
When he signed with the White Sox as a free agent before the 2015 season, La Roche said he and the team agreed that his son could "be a part of the team" and said he was unaware of any concerns from a teammate, coach or manager.
"This is their office and their career, and it would not be fair to the team if anybody in the clubhouse was unhappy with the situation," La Roche said. "Fortunately, that problem never developed."
La Roche said his decision to retire "was simply the result of a fundamental disagreement between myself and Ken Williams."
He added: "This was likely to be the last year of my career, and there's no way I was going to spend it without my son."
Get the latest in sports with our free newsletter >>
White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf said the team was "in the process of holding a number of discussions with players, staff and the front office" and would not comment until those discussions had concluded.
Williams, promoted from general manager four years ago, responded to Sale in a statement released by the White Sox.
"While I disagree with Chris' assertions today, I certainly have always appreciated his passion," Williams said.
Adam Eaton, the White Sox player representative, said he has spoken with the players union about potentially filing a grievance on La Roche's behalf. La Roche would walk away from $13 million by retiring, but a grievance could lead to a financial settlement.
Eaton said the players expect to discuss the matter with Reinsdorf in the next few days. Still, Eaton said he does not expect La Roche to change his mind about retirement.
La Roche's locker was cleared out. Two La Roche jerseys hung in front of Sale's locker, one black and one gray, with these inscriptions: "To Chris, thanks for everything, I'll never forget you, Drake La Roche" and "To Chris, thanks for taking care of me, Drake La Roche."
Sale and Eaton said there was no issue among the players with Drake La Roche's clubhouse access and said any clubhouse issues should be handled by the players and Manager Robin Ventura.
"This isn't us rebelling against rules," Sale said. "This is us rebelling against B.S."
Four players who spoke with reporters Friday -- Sale, Eaton, infielder Todd Frazier and pitcher David Robertson -- all spoke highly of Drake La Roche. Ventura joked that Drake La Roche was "probably more mature than most of the guys in there."
"For lack of a better term, he was our team mascot," Sale said. "He brought just as much energy to our clubhouse as anybody. It's a hard pill to swallow for someone outside our clubhouse [Williams] to tell us what is going to happen. We don't go into his office and tell him how to do his job."
Added Sale: "There was absolutely no problem in here with anyone. He kind of created a problem."
Sale said Williams had "derailed" a positive spring.
"If we're all here to win a championship, this kind of stuff doesn't happen," Sale said.
He suggested the bad vibes with Williams might linger beyond the La Roche situation.
Sale, 26, has made the All-Star team and finished in the top six in American League Cy Young voting in each of the past four years. His contract with the White Sox extends through 2017.
Eaton said he wanted to bring his father into the clubhouse Friday but did not feel comfortable doing so. He said he believes La Roche feels perfectly comfortable with retirement.
"I think that he believes the Lord put him in this position, he made a decision and there are positives coming out of it," Eaton said. "Him retiring and everyone standing up for him is a credit to him."
Twitter: @BillShaikin
MORE FROM SPORTS
Lakers' Bryant expected to play tonight vs. Phoenix
Report: Conor McGregor-Nate Diaz rematch could headline UFC 200
Colts announce plans to erect a statue of Peyton Manning, retire his jersey No. 18
