Lawrence J. Dolan, owner of Cleveland’s major league baseball team since 2000, has died at age 94.

The Cleveland Guardians put out a statement Monday saying Dolan died Sunday night of natural causes.

“Mr. Dolan invested his entire life in Greater Cleveland and impacted our community on so many levels,” said Bob DiBiasio, Guardians senior vice president of public affairs, in a statement. “From his service to our country as a First Lieutenant in the United States Marines, his many philanthropic acts of kindness, career in law, business, education, and sports, many benefited from his engagement, influence, and passion. Especially in the world of sports.”

Dolan, a Cleveland native, purchased the team from Richard Jacobs in 2000 for $320 million. The Dolan family has a 75% stake in the club and is the longest-tenured owners in Cleveland franchise history.

Guardians Chairman and CEO Paul Dolan, Larry Dolan’s son, took over as the team’s primary control person in 2013.

The franchise was known as the Cleveland Indians before changing its name to the Guardians after the 2021 season. Over the past 24 seasons, Cleveland has won seven American League Central Division titles, made nine postseason appearances and advanced to the 2016 World Series before losing to the Chicago Cubs in seven games.

Dolan’s nephew, James Dolan, owns the New York Knicks, New York Rangers and Madison Square Garden.’

METS’ MANAEA INJURED

New York Mets starter Sean Manaea is expected to begin the season on the injured list because of a right oblique strain.

Manaea said Monday that he had been dealing with the issue since getting to spring training.

The left-hander, the Mets’ top starter last season who then got a $75 million, three-year contract, said he had been throwing and pitching but that “recovery hasn’t really been the greatest in between.”

With Manaea now sidelined, the Mets are without two of their expected starters. Frankie Montas, who signed a two-year, $34 million free-agent contract in December, is out because of a strained back.

Manaea went 12-6 with a 3.47 ERA in 32 starts during his Mets debut last season. He struck out 184 batters in a career-high 181 2/3 innings.

BREWERS SIGN CANHA

Veteran outfielder Mark Canha has signed a minor league deal with the Milwaukee Brewers that includes an invitation to major league camp.

The move continues the two-time defending NL Central champions’ attempts to boost their depth after outfielder Blake Perkins fractured his right shin during batting practice, an injury that likely will sideline him for the first month of the season. Milwaukee previously signed Manuel Margot to a minor league deal.

Canha, 36, previously joined the Brewers at the 2023 trade deadline. He batted .287 with a .373 on-base percentage, five homers, 33 RBIs and four steals in 50 games with Milwaukee that season.

He spent 2024 with Detroit and San Francisco Giants. Canha batted .242 with a .344 on-base percentage, seven homers, 42 RBIs and seven steals in 125 games.

Canha is a career .249 batter with a .349 on-base percentage, 120 homers and 459 RBIs in 1,049 games with Oakland (2015-21), the New York Mets (2022-23), Milwaukee, Detroit and San Francisco.