Redmond also knows going in that the summer nights ahead could be long and painful ones, just like those in ’98 and ’99. But he’s dealt with that before, as a player. And he knows where it could all lead.

“When we won in 2003, for the guys that were there the whole time -- which was quite a few of us — that’s what was probably the most satisfying,” he said. “We were there in the darkest days, and then we we won it, and it made it so satisfying.”

Notes

Yunel Escobar told Marlins officials he was fine with switching from shortstop to third base when they met two weeks ago. But after Escobar had a change of heart and told them he would be “uncomfortable” with the move, they decided to trade him.

The Marlins did just that late Monday, sending Escobar to the Tampa Bay Rays for minor-league infielder Derek Dietrich.

“He said he was comfortable playing third base,” Marlins president of baseball operations Larry Beinfest said of his initial conversation with Escobar, who was acquired in the Toronto trade.

“He came back with us and said he was not comfortable playing third base, so we were not comfortable moving forward with him as our third baseman.”

As a result, the Marlins are now actively searching for a third baseman. It will more than likely come from the free agent market.

Escobar was due to make $5 million next season. Beinfest said that money would be reinvested in the big league roster, more than likely with a third baseman.

The Marlins are expected to participate in Thursday’s Rule V draft for the first time since 2008, perhaps with as many as two selections. The Marlins nabbed Dan Uggla in the 2005 Rule V draft but haven’t had success with it since. One area that the Marlins might address in the draft is bullpen help.