Its common sense to be honest. You can either burn your bridges or you can have access to the information necessary to do your job. I know there are a lot of internet warriors here, but I am guessing most of the same people aren't burning their employer in a public setting either.
From what I saw it is way too early to say that. His defense definitely improved as the season went on. Now the Sox might know something that we don't about him which tells them differently, but from my point of view, I want him in the OF unless Bryce himself walks through the door.l
For my two cents, it depends what the scouting thinks of Palka. If they really think there is a chance his bat could play and his D could catch up, I want him playing. If they think he is a dude that will either get exploited, or will never play a position, I don't care about him.
Also this. It would make zero sense to have wasted the two months they could have had him up last year if they were going to call him up April 1 this year.
There is a laundry list of teams that have done it.
Cubs-Bryant
Jays- Vlad Jr.
Braves-Acuna
Nats-Harper
Twins-Buxton
Astros-Springer
The White Sox would be stupid to give away that year.
We should compound the Machado mistake by giving away a year of Eloy.... Uh, no. Hold him down until May 1, so it looks good, and then call him up like every other organization in MLB would do.
Be that as it may, I do see a difference in the aggressiveness level since Rick took over. They are much more willing to wait out things. In some cases it has been good, such as the Q deal, and in the case of Machado, well, anyway.