Jack Parkman

Palka is a strict DH IMO. He is an absolute disaster anywhere on the field. If they want to find ABs for him, they have to move either Abreu or Alonso. He could get ABs in LF until Eloy gets the call, but he'll cost them a game or two in the first couple weeks of the season. Palka makes Schwarber look competent in the OF. There is no way in hell that Palka should ever see RF.

Who is Jay blocking in 2019? Basabe isn't ready Robert hasn't had a full season in the minors yet Gonzalez will be in AA. He's not blocking anyone. Palka is already marginalized with Alonso's presence, if you're worried about him. Adam Engel fucking sucks. Jay is better than Engel by a mile. Jay might not be that good, but he's still a massive upgrade over Engel, who is complete trash. Are you saying you'd pick Engel over Jay in 2019? If so, pass whatever you're smoking. It must be some really good shit.

I agree about Jay being ok but Alonso being stupid. Also, I know Pomeranz sucked last year but they need to get on it and sign him. If he can pass a physical he'll be good. He was really bad(like Giolito bad) and injured last year.

Probably not, but I wouldn't count it out. After last season, I just want them to give Palka ABs and I don't see where he's going to get any after Eloy gets called up. Unless Eloy is playing RF and they're leaving it open for a couple weeks. I barely trust Palka in LF as it is. You can't completely waste a lefty power bat like Palka. They have to see if he can get on base at a decent clip.

I wouldn't argue that, but I don't think Abreu would be opposed to taking a one year escapade in Houston. If he wants to come back, I think the Sox would bring him back.

If it doesn't matter, it is really fucking stupid.

I think either Alonso or Abreu is getting traded depending on what Machado does. Obviously, they won't sign Adam Jones or anyone who can take up RF until they either land Machado or Harper is off the board.

Palka is already marginalized with Alonso here. I don't trust him one bit in the OF. Either Alonso or Abreu has to go or Palka gets no ABs when Eloy gets called up. I don't even trust Palka in LF. Palka makes Schwarber look competent in LF.

The other thing is that Jay will lead off and push Moncada into a run producing role which is good for his development. Moncada isn't a leadoff guy.

None of the OF other than Eloy will be ready in 2019. If it's a 1-year deal, it isn't a biggie anyway.

Schoop already signed with the Twins. Adam Jones however......

Yeah, I just looked up his fielding stats on Fangraphs. He's had a plus arm for the majority of his career. I think he's going to be the Sox RF this year.

Does Adam Jones have a good enough arm to play RF? If so, I'd imagine he's next.

Anything to kill Engel's chances of starting in CF. That dude has at least 9 lives.

He was doing exactly as his screen name says-going on hiatus.

That is how the Brits spell fetus, so, he's only 1/2 wrong on the spelling.

If we're really going cynical, they could both be traded for Encarnacion, and they both have All-Star caliber years for Seattle, while Encarnacion pulls a Dunn.

If he signs elsewhere, this will be Soxtalk

They somehow think that Jay is worse than Engel.

Please don't put these ideas into my head. This is the ultra cynical thought. Schtaaahhhp. LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA LA...I CAN'T HEAR YOU

Jay is a CF. If this means Engel is finally a 5th OF I'm all for it. I'm tired of Engel, to say the least. Jay career line: .285/.352/.729 Huge upgrade over Engel.

No kidding, but at least now we know he still has the velocity in that right arm of his, as compared to last year. Why don't you edit/delete your post and go read what I added to my previous post. It answers a lot of your objections. I by no means think Giolito is a lost cause to reach his ceiling of a TOR starter, but I also don't deny that he could just have a non-repeatable delivery, in which case he is going to be wildly inconsistent, and the Floyd comparisons are accurate. The variance in possible outcomes is incredibly extreme, with him becoming anywhere from an ace to career minor leaguer/washout. I'm just saying it is still too early to write him off completely. He may completely suck, I don't deny that, but it isn't out of the question that he turns it around and becomes the pitcher everyone thought he could be. Floyd didn't have his first decent season until he was 26.

He averaged 93-94 from mid June to the ASB and 94-95 from the ASB until the end of August. I made it a point to watch his starts. It was a good 2.5 months. He was downright nasty against the Sawx on 8/30/18. It's pretty obvious that he can still touch 96-97 when he stays closed in his delivery. For him, it is all about staying closed. When he flies open he gets incredibly wild and the velo drops 3-5 mph. He had a pretty strong middle of the season. This is where all of the Floyd comps come from. Floyd would always be wild in April, May and September, and nails from June through August. Though this calls into question whether or not his delivery is repeatable, as these are the things that pitchers who struggle to repeat their mechanics do during the season.

Guys, Giolito was always a project and was still a top 5 prospect in baseball on most 2016 postseason lists. The stuff has mostly returned (the loss of velo was found to be mechanically related) and he could get it all back this spring. In Giolito's final appearance on the MLB pipeline list in the 16-17 offseason, he was still given a FV of 65. The only reason he was available was because the Nats broke him. It was always going to be process to get him fixed. Because he's a big guy with a somewhat complex delivery, 2 seasons was always a best case scenario to see if he could turn it around. I'm infinitely more hopeful, despite the results, than I was at this time last year because the stuff is back. Last year at this time I thought best case for Gio was as a mid-back end guy, now, despite the lumps he took this year, I think Giolito could be a TOR starter again. Some guys, especially tall guys with funky deliveries, take longer to put it all together. I could totally see Giolito taking the Roy Halladay path and breaking out at age 26. Right now, if Giolito is going to be an MLB pitcher(a big if I'd agree) the best case scenario is Halladay and the worst is Floyd.

Both Hahn and Sale have mentioned it in the past. Hahn and Sale still talk during the offseason. (This is straight from Hahn himself) I think that it may have always been known between the two of hem that Sale was coming back after his contract was up, and that his little escapade with the Sawx could get him at least one ring, and hopefully more on the South Side.(this is my opinion and nothing more than speculation) It all comes down to dollars though, as this will be Sale's only mega contract. I think that the Sox got such good value on him the first time around in many ways that they're ok with spending what it takes to bring him back. I think the goal is Machado in 2019, Sale in 2020 and titles to follow.