NEW YORK -- The Rays likely will start a new search for a ballpark site in the Tampa and St. Petersburg area after the team is sold, according to MLB commissioner Rob Manfred.

Owner Stu Sternberg, who has controlled the club since 2005, has been negotiating to sell the Rays to a group headed by Patrick Zalupski . The Rays have had several ballpark deals fall through in recent years.

"With new ownership, I think you have to assume it's kind of a clean slate, that they're going to decide about location, they're going have to build and make relationships and contacts with people throughout the region to decide what's the best place for the ballpark in order to make the Rays successful over the long haul," Manfred said Tuesday at Front Office Sports' "Tuned In" event.

Tampa Bay's home s

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