Adam LaRoche to call it a career?

Adam LaRoche is reportedly heavily leaning toward retiring from Major League Baseball after 12 years of playing on six different big league teams.

According to Chicago Tribune Chicago White Sox beat writer Colleen Kane, first baseman/designated hitter Adam LaRoche has informed the team that he wants to retire:

Kane reports that teammates want him to reconsider, but the 36-year-old, 12-year veteran feels firm about his decision. LaRoche spent the bulk of his Major League career in the National League East playing for the Atlanta Braves (2004-06, 2009) and the Washington Nationals (2011-14). He spent 2015 in the American League Central with the White Sox, primarily as a designated hitter.

LaRoche has a career .260 batting average with 255 career home runs, 882 runs batted in, and 1,452 career hits. His best year in the big leagues came in 2012, when he hit .271 with 33 home runs and 100 runs batted in, finishing sixth in National League MVP voting while winning both the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards for his position.

LaRoche was notorious for being a great second half of the season player. He would typically start a season especially slow at the plate, but would almost always be able to turn it on as the season went along.

His approach at the plate was extremely nonchalant, and that agitated fans, to say the least. However, in his prime he was capable of hitting .270, driving in 90+ runs, and hitting around 20 home runs a season while playing terrific defense at first base.

If LaRoche does decide to retire before Opening Day 2016, he will be one of the best first basemen during his playing days to not be named to an All-Star team. The slow first halves nearly always played to his detriment in terms of playing in a Midsummer Classic, but LaRoche was most valuable in being able to carry an offense during a pennant race.