The White Sox have filed LaRoche's retirement paperwork, Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

LaRoche took a few days to think it over after walking out over a dispute with GM Kenny Williams regarding how much time his son spent in the clubhouse. The paperwork has now been officially filed, and LaRoche issued a statement thanking his former managers, coaches and friends in the game for the memories throughout the course of his 12-year major league career.

LaRoche has told the White Sox that he's stepping away from baseball with the intent of retiring, Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

Apparently, he will wait a few days before making the decision official, but LaRoche referred to the matter as a personal issue. Back soreness has slowed LaRoche this spring in the wake of a disappointing 2015 campaign with the White Sox, and he'll forgo the final year of the two-year, $25 million deal he signed in November of 2014 if he does in fact decide to call it a career in the coming days.

LaRoche (back) said his swing is about 80 percent on Friday, the Chicago Tribune's Colleen Kane reports.

EDGE Analysis

He ran the bases, took groundballs and hit Friday, but it sounds like his back spasms are still limiting him at the plate. It is unclear when he will be able to return to the lineup, but it sounds like he is still at least a couple days away from being ready to face in-game pitching. He will have to earn at-bats this year, now that the White Sox have an excess of outfielders.

LaRoche (back spasms) was supposed to return to the White Sox's lineup Wednesday, but he will be out for a few more days, the Chicago Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

LaRoche was told at the beginning of camp that he will have to "earn" his at-bats this spring, but it is tough for him to earn them when he's stuck on the shelf. LaRoche may lose playing time this season anyway, with a crowded outfield likely to bleed into the DH slot.

LaRoche (back) could lose playing time in the wake of the team's signing of Austin Jackson on Sunday, the Chicago Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

While Laroche does not play the outfield, Jackson's arrival will push one of the club's corner outfielders to the DH slot on a more regular basis. Jackson's starts figure to come most frequently against left-handed pitchers, and LaRoche might have sat against those starters anyway (he had a .383 OPS against left-handed pitchers in 2015).

LaRoche will sit out two more days due to his sore back, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

While LaRoche will miss at least a total of three days due to the back injury that forced him from Saturday's exhibition game, the good news is he does not appear to be facing a lengthy absence. He is on track to rejoin Chicago's lineup Wednesday.

LaRoche (back) is day-to-day, but with no nerve damage, after leaving Saturday's game due to spasms, Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune reports.

EDGE Analysis

LaRoche's age meant that lingering back problems could have been a worry, but the White Sox are apparently comfortable enough to feel no need for an MRI. There's no telling when LaRoche begins playing spring games again, but he's enough of a veteran that the White Sox aren't going to rush him.

LaRoche left Saturday's game against the Roayls early due to back spasms, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

This is likely a short-term concern that shouldn't impact LaRoche's Opening Day availability. The veteran has been around enough that he likely doesn't need too much preparation in camp, but any lingering back issues could hurt as he tries to bounce back from an awful 2015 in which he hit .207/.293/.340 with 12 home runs.

Manager Robin Ventura has said Laroche will have to "earn" his at-bats this season, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Ventura also acknowledged the Sox do not necessarily have anyone pushing LaRoche for at-bats.

EDGE Analysis

LaRoche's first season with the White Sox was one of the worst of his career, as his average hovered near .200 for much of the year and he managed a meager 12 home runs despite the move to a power-friendly home park. Part of the decline could be the "DH effect" (that is, he was removed from the defensive part of the game for the first time), and part of the decline could be age. The size of LaRoche's contract should ensure him a fair amount of slack heading into 2016.

LaRoche (knee) is in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Yankees, according to CSN's Dan Hayes.

EDGE Analysis

LaRoche has not started a game since Sept. 11 due to his ailing knee, but he will do just that Thursday. LaRoche will serve as the White Sox' designated hitter and hit fifth against Yankees starter Michael Pineda.