The Red Sox’s Improving Defense

Last July, Jarrod Washburn was having the best year of his career. The 34 year old right hander had a 2.64 ERA, good for a 164 ERA+, as well as a WHIP under 1.2. Then he got traded to the Tigers. By the time the season was over, his ERA rose over 100 points. Some of this had to do with regression, and leaving Safeco. But the the biggest factor? Defense. The Mariners put together one of the best defenses in recent memory last year, and their pitchers prospered. Identifying which teams have greatly improved their defense will help us find the next Jarrod Washburn – or even Felix Hernandez. The team making the most significant defensive improvement in 2010 is likely to be the Boston Red Sox.

For a progressive, statistically friendly team, the Red Sox sure took a long time coming around to the fact that defense does matter. Last season, the Red Sox ranked 16th in the Majors in UZR. Certainly respectable, but losing 16.3 runs in the field couldn’t have helped their pitchers. That’s not going to be the case next season.

The Red Sox received some pretty abysmal outfield play last year. Although JD Drew was well above average in right, Jason Bay and Jacoby Ellsbury cost the team 31.6 runs in left and center field. The Sox acquired Mike Cameron from the Brewers, and assuming he slots into center, he will alleviate both issues. A gold glove caliber outfielder, he was worth 10 runs in the field last season. Ellsbury would presumably move over to left, where he is better suited. Per 150 games, Ellsbury is 21.8 runs above average in left field, compared to 10.6 runs bellow in center. If he were to only perform at a league average rate, assuming a positive 10 run performance from Cameron, the Red Sox defense would improve by more than 40 runs, and Ellsbury has shown he can be more than an average left fielder.

The infield defense will be better as well. Last season, Kevin Youkilis ended up playing third base for much of the season. Youkilis is a very good first baseman, but at best, an average third baseman. With the acquisition of Adrian Beltre, a gold glove caliber fielder who was more than 14 runs above average last season, the Sox go from having an average/bellow average player at both first and third, to having a potential gold glover at both positions. Dustin Pedroia is solid as ever at second base, and Marco Scutaro, although mearly average last year, was always known more for his glove than his bat.

The Red Sox could potentially field a well above average defender at EVERY position next season, moving them from a middle of the pack team to among the best in the league defensively. Make sure to keep this in mind when considering Jon Lester, Josh Beckett, or any other Red Sox pitcher in your draft or auction. If Lester and Beckett pitch as well as they did in 2009, each could be legitimate Cy Young contenders with this new defense behind them.