Red Sox's defensive struggles persist despite a few standout performers

The Boston Red Sox are a wildly infuriating team to watch on defense. They rank 21st in baseball with a 4.08 team ERA, though their team FIP sits at 13th (3.92). In other words, their pitching staff is actually one of the better ones in MLB, when adjusted for their leaky defense.

Boston leads the league in errors (61), mostly because of an infield unit that has allowed mistakes to pile up. Alex Bregman, Trevor Story, and Kristian Campbell are tied for the team lead in errors with five (outfielders Jarren Duran and Wilyer Abreu also have five), while first basemen Abraham Toro and Romy González have combined for the same amount. Heck, relief pitcher Brenan Brenardino has four of his own.

And, yet, they rank in the middle of the pack in most defensive metrics, including Defensive Runs Saved (12, tied for 15th) and Fielding Run Value (10, tied for sixth). What gives?

Red Sox are top-heavy everywhere on roster, including defense

In the same way the Red Sox's pitching staff is being carried by a select few actors (Garrett Crochet, Aroldis Chapman, Justin Wilson), the lineup is being uplifted by a few star contributors (Rafael Devers, Bregman, Carlos Narváez, Toro). And, wouldn't you believe it, the same is true for the defense.

Center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela (10 DRS) and right fielder Wilyer Abreu (seven DRS) have been outrageously good in the pastures this year, despite their eight combined errors. Of course, when you realize Campbell has been worth -14(!!) DRS at second base, you start to understand just how wonky this depth chart looks.

Toro and Triston Casas have combined for -8 DRS at first base this year, which is canceled out by Narváez's seven DRS at catcher. Trevor Story hasn't been very good in the field, but luckily, Bregman has covered for him on the left side of the infield.

Now, unlike a good pitching staff or lineup, a good defense can be crafted out a few elite contributors. Having strong up-the-middle defense is paramount to that — look at the three-headed monster the Chicago Cubs have in Dansby Swanson, Nico Hoerner, and Pete Crow-Armstrong as proof — which the Red Sox are lacking, save for Rafaela's brilliance in center field.

It isn't necessarily the team's top priority — Roman Anthony, Marcelo Mayer, and Campbell will all find their way as they grow comfortable in the big leagues — but a good defense can cover for a lot of flaws elsewhere on the roster.

In their few elite defenders, Boston has the hard part figured out. Now, it just needs a few replacement-level pieces who won't sink the contributions of the Gold Glove contenders.