LOS ANGELES (AP) — Prized Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki says in an Instagram post he intends to sign with the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers. A 23-year-old right-hander whose fastball tops 100 mph, Sasaki will join fellow Japanese stars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in a move many baseball executives have long expected.

The prized righty pitcher was one of the most sought-after international free agents in recent memory and picked the Dodgers over a considerable list of other suitors.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have been on an unprecedented stretch that dates back to last offseason when they signed Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu ... tied with the San Francisco Giants for the lowest ...

SAN FRANCISCO -- Giants officials have believed ... Sasaki joins a rotation that includes Blake Snell, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Tyler Glasnow, Shohei Ohtani and young depth options.

Less than 24 hours later, the San Francisco Giants hosted the first leg of their ... a unit that will also feature Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow with Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May and Landon Knack in the mix.

Japanese star Roki Sasaki is joining the Los Angeles Dodgers following a frenzied Major League Baseball battle for the coveted pitcher’s signature. The 23-year-old confirmed on Friday that he would join up with compatriots and Dodgers stars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto in a brief statement on Instagram.

Along with Blake Snell – signed to a five-year, $182 million contract in December. And Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who was posted one year ago after seven dominant seasons in Japan, signed a $325 million contract – and was the starting pitcher for four of the Dodgers’ 11 postseason wins.

The Washington Nationals signed Japanese pitcher Shinnosuke Ogasawara despite his losing record. General Manager Mike Rizzo believes the lefty is “big league ready.”

The Los Angeles Dodgers officially announced the signing of Japanese right-hander Roki Sasaki on Wednesday. Last Friday, Sasaki announced on social media that he intended to sign a free-agent deal with the Dodgers. The Dodgers, in turn, posted a welcome to him without revealing contract details.

Reliever Tanner Scott's $72 million, four-year contract has been finalized by the Los Angeles Dodgers, raising the World Series champions' offseason spending to $452 million on eight players. Scott was a first-time All-Star last year,

The Dodgers aren’t ruining baseball. No one is ruining baseball. But if you want to be mad at a ball club for eroding parity in the game,

The Los Angeles Dodgers won their eighth World Series title in franchise history and their second in the past five seasons. While their roster is already filled with talent from their lineup to their pitching staff,