One sizable hurdle is that big-market teams such as the Red Sox, Yankees, and Mets who own successful regional sports networks (NESN, YES, SNY), would have to be made whole.
"There are mechanics and existing agreements that we're going to have to work through, but if you're making a change that you believe is going to substantially increase your revenue over the long haul, it gives you that great thing that helps you solve a lot of problems: It's called money," said Manfred Wednesday at the owners meetings.
With the court case between the league and clubs left hanging by the bankruptcy of the Regional Sports Network conglomerate Diamond Sports Group recently settled, MLB will take broadcast duties in-house for seven teams with deals scheduled to end in 2028.
That's the earliest centralization could begin.
"We believe we have to convince the clubs that it's in their economic interest to do that," said Manfred. "Games on national outlets is an important key to maximizing your revenue. Once you realize that, you can begin to build a consensus around the idea that we need to be more national. We've worked really hard to start to build that consensus."
Red Sox president and CEO Sam Kennedy addressed the looming issue.
"In the spirit of never wasting a good crisis, we are navigating through the changing media landscape," said Kennedy. "NESN has been extraordinary for the Red Sox, for the Bruins [who own 20 percent] and for the near term will continue to be but if there is an opportunity for baseball to come together, centralize all the rights, and be more fan and consumer friendly, we would be all for that."
Manfred expressed an "overwhelming sense of relief" that the bankruptcy case reached its conclusion. "The good news is that we did a pretty good job in terms of maximizing the economics for the club,'' he said. "We never lost a game. And you know, we have a lot of flexibility come 2028, which was our primary focus."
Last month's destruction of Tropicana Field by Hurricane Milton forced the Rays to play next season in the Yankees' spring training home, Steinbrenner Field.
The new Pinellas County Commission voted to delay a $300-plus million bond resolution for a new stadium that could open by 2028.
"We have a franchise in Tampa Bay, and we're committed to the fans," said Manfred. "Given the devastation in that area, it's kind of only fair to give the local governments in the Tampa Bay region an opportunity to figure out where they are and what they have available in terms of resources."
As for the other team temporarily playing in a Triple A stadium -- the A's will be in Sacramento the next two seasons -- Manfred expressed no doubts that the team will move to a new stadium in Las Vegas for the 2028 season.
"It's 100 percent full steam ahead," he said.
A resolution to the two stadium situations has been long considered a precursor to baseball expanding to 32 teams.
"I'm not worried about the outcome in Las Vegas," said Manfred. "I'm hopeful that we'll be able to work through the situation in Tampa Bay in a way that keeps us on the timetable that I've articulated, which is to have an expansion decision made before I leave in four years."
Manfred said ideally, baseball could have an automated balls-and-strike system in place by the 2026 season.
The system will be tested in some spring training games next year.
"From my perspective, there's two sides to that test: it's what clubs think about it and also what the players think about it. And we're going to have to sort through both," said Manfred.
The status of baseball suspending its 2028 season midway through to allow players to play for their countries in the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles remains the same: uncertain.