The Boston Red Sox infield has been a hot topic this season, and it turns out that the team's top decision-makers weren't always on the same page about how to set it up.

When spring training rolled around, the biggest question mark was at third base—especially after star free agent Alex Bregman signed with the Chicago Cubs. The Red Sox addressed the gap in February by acquiring Caleb Durbin from the Milwaukee Brewers, but that move only set the stage for a behind-the-scenes disagreement.

According to a league source speaking to The Athletic's Jen McCaffrey, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow wanted top prospect Marcelo Mayer to play third base, with Durbin sliding over to second. Mayer has experience at shortstop, third, and second, while Durbin spent most of his rookie season in Milwaukee at the hot corner. It seemed like a logical swap—but manager Alex Cora saw things differently.

Ultimately, Cora's vision won out. Durbin has been Boston's everyday third baseman, while Mayer has settled in at second base. And defensively, it's paid off: Durbin leads all of Major League Baseball with six defensive runs saved at third base. That kind of glove work is hard to argue with.

Even after Cora and several coaching staff members were dismissed in April, interim manager Chad Tracy isn't looking to shake things up. "I like where they're at," Tracy said. "Especially right now, both of them are playing really well and Durbin has been exceptional at third base, his defense. So I like where it's at and switching things like that in the middle of a season, especially at this level, is hard to do."

But while Durbin's glove has been a game-changer, his bat has been a different story. He's hitting just .165 with one home run, 11 RBI, and a .248 slugging percentage heading into Tuesday's game against the Tigers. McCaffrey noted that it's possible Durbin could be optioned to Triple-A Worcester at some point to work on his offense.

For now, the infield alignment stands—and it's a reminder that even the best-laid plans in baseball sometimes need a little on-field proof before they truly click.