Mike Berry says there's still time to get a new baseball team playing at The Diamond in April.

But the Richmond Metropolitan Authority's general manager acknowledges it's getting late in the game.

"With the conversations I've had with everyone, our objective hasn't changed - and that's to have a team in here in'09," said Berry, who is acting as the facilitator between local governments and Minor League Baseball as the region seeks a replacement team for the Richmond Braves.

"Assuming we can negotiate a short-term and long-term agreement, it still can be done. But time is a little short. We don't have the luxury of waiting much longer."

Berry and regional leaders can't formally negotiate with other teams until International League President Randy Mobley grants permission. The Atlanta Braves are planning to relocate their Triple-A franchise after this season to Gwinnett County, Ga., although they have a contractual fallback that allows them to return to The Diamond next season.

The IL controls the Richmond territory until the Braves leave, and Mobley wants to make sure the Gwinnett stadium will be ready before releasing the territory. Mobley said late last week that he doesn't have a timetable, although he suggested it wouldn't be much longer.

Even if Mobley removes the gag soon, the region already is in the late innings for next season.

Among other things, a new team has to be identified, local ownership may have to be addressed, a lease has to be negotiated, and a contract detailing such things as skybox rentals and concessions revenues has to be negotiated.

Then there's the issue of a renovation or a new ballpark to replace the 23-year-old Diamond.

Berry said he did not think the region could tackle all of those things "in one fell swoop" and suggested a two-part approach: a short-term deal to get a team playing at The Diamond, then working on a long-term deal with the team to address the stadium issue.

"The expectation is [the stadium] will be a partnership between the community and the new owner," Berry said. "By partnership, I'm talking about more of an investment of the private side and the public side. That doesn't exist with the Braves. It opens up a whole new area of discussions that will be in everybody's best interests."