LOS ANGELES >> 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 San Diego Padres and Toronto Blue Jays were said to be the other finalists still in pursuit of Sasaki, who has until next Thursday to finalize a contract.

Los Angeles has up to $5,146,200 available in its international signing bonus pool, though the Dodgers could make trades in the next week to increase the amount by up to 60%.

The Dodgers are planning to use a six-man rotation, which could ease Sasaki’s transition to Major League Baseball, as the Dodgers attempt to become the first repeat champion since the New York Yankees from 1998 to 2000.

A’s agree with reliever Leclerc >> The Athletics agreed to terms on a $10 million, one-year contract with former Texas right-hander José Leclerc.

The 31-year-old Leclerc went 6-5 with a 4.32 ERA and one save in 64 relief appearances for the Rangers last season.

College football

Pair of Spartans invited to all-star bowl games >> San José State football players Nick Nash and Soane Toia have been invited to all-star bowl games to finish their collegiate careers. Nash will play in the East-West Shrine Bowl on Jan. 30 from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, at 5 p.m. on the NFL Network, while Toia will play in the Trillion Tropical Bowl in Orlando on Sunday at 8 a.m.

College basketball

Staley’s extension richest salary in women’s hoops history >> Coach Dawn Staley received a contract extension that South Carolina said will make her the highest paid college women’s basketball coach of all-time at a total value of about $25 million.

Staley is signed through the 2029-30 season, earning $4 million a year to start with an annual $250,000 escalator. There’s also a $500,000 signing bonus, the school announced.

Staley has led South Carolina to six of the last nine Final Fours, including each of the last four. The Gamecocks won titles in 2017, 2022 and 2024.

Tennis

Gauff, Sabalenka move closer to rematch >> Coco Gauff still hasn’t lost a match or even at set at the Australian Open — or, actually, this season. She moved into the fourth round at Melbourne Park with a straightforward 6-4, 6-2 victory over 2021 U.S. Open runner-up Leylah Fernandez.

While there have been plenty of surprises in the men’s bracket so far, most of the top women have progressed through the draw without an issue. That includes wins for No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who is the two-time defending champion in Australia, No. 3 Gauff, No. 11 Paula Badosa and No. 14 Mirra Andreeva.

However, No. 7 seed Jessica Pegula was ousted by world No. 55 Olga Danilovic in two sets.

Men’s winners in third-round action included No. 2 Alexander Zverev, No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, No. 7 Novak Djokovic, No. 12 Tommy Paul and No. 15 Jack Draper.

Soccer

Haaland signs lucrative new contract with Man City >> Erling Haaland has signed a new contract at Manchester City through 2034, committing his long-term future to the Premier League champions with one of the most lucrative deals in soccer amid uncertain times for the club on and off the field.

City announced the deal — covering 10 years from the start of this season — for the 24-year-old Haaland, who has scored 111 goals in 125 games since joining the club from Borussia Dortmund in 2022 to establish himself as one of the best strikers in the world.

The deal is the longest in the Premier League, with Haaland reportedly earning around $600,000 per week.

Pro football

Stubblefield denied bail >> Dana Stubblefield will remain in state prison for the time being after a Santa Clara County judge declined to make a bail ruling for the former San Francisco 49ers star, whose 2020 rape conviction and sentence were overturned late last year by an appellate court that found racial bias tainted his trial.

Superior Court Judge Hector Ramon declared that he cannot grant bail or release for Stubblefield because the case remains under the jurisdiction of the Sixth District Court of Appeal, which vacated the conviction in a Dec. 26 opinion. But the appellate court’s remittitur, a technical ruling that returns jurisdiction to the lower court, is not expected to be issued until next month.

Stubblefield’s attorneys have sought to secure his release in the wake of the historic appellate decision, arguing that the state no longer has any grounds to keep him incarcerated, and that he should be allowed to remain free while county prosecutors decide whether to re-file charges.

Del Rio hired by Paris Musketeers >> American football team the Paris Musketeers hired former NFL coach Jack Del Rio as their new head coach.

The Musketeers are the only French team in the European League. Home games are at the 19,500-capacity Stade Jean Bouin, which is directly opposite soccer club Paris Saint-Germain’s stadium.