The reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers' pitching rotation is set to get a big lift. On Friday, coveted Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki announced he will play for the Dodgers.

The 23-year-old took to Instagram to reveal that he is inking a minor-league contract with the organization. Saski's Japanese team, the Chiba Lotte Marines, will receive compensation from the MLB franchise.

Saski is the latest Japanese-born superstar to land in Los Angeles in the past year. Last winter, superstars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto joined the team. Ohtani was exclusively a designated hitter in 2024, but won his third career MVP trophy. He plans to return to the pitching mound in 2025. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman previously said that signing Sasaki was considered a "major priority." Sasaki met with the Dodgers earlier this week. 

The combination of youth and elite level talent made Saski a highly-sought after prospect.

WHO IS RŌKI SASAKI? WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT THE JAPANESE PITCHING SENSATION BOUND FOR MLB

However, the Dodgers were long considered the favorites in the race to land the pitcher whose fastball routinely reaches 100-mph. He can also throw an impressive splitter, which bolsters his potential to be an ace in a pitching rotation.

A long list of MLB clubs submitted information about their respective organizations to Saski and Wasserman, his representing agency, in December during baseball's winter meetings.

While several of those teams were granted in-person meetings, only three organizations made the short list. By January, the Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres, and Dodgers were the final teams under consideration.

The Dodgers' projected pitching rotation already featured Tyler Glasnow, Yamamoto, Ohtani and Clayton Kershaw. Blake Snell, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, also signed with L.A. earlier this offseason.

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The Miami Dolphins will travel to Europe in 2025. On Friday, the franchise revealed it was the team selected by the NFL to play in the league's first-ever game in Madrid, Spain. 

The NFL did not immediately provide a date for the game, but it will take place during the 2025 regular season. The Dolphins' opponent will also be announced at a later date.

The Dolphins will be the designated "home" team at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, the longtime home of Real Madrid CF. The venue features a soccer field that retracts to make way for a field that can be used for American football. The stadium has a capacity of just over 78,000.

"We are thrilled to play the NFL's inaugural game in Spain, a country of rich history, tradition and passion and home to a vibrant Dolphins fan base," Dolphins president and CEO Tom Garfinkel said in a statement.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

"There is a hunger for football in this market, and we are proud to join with the NFL in growing the game internationally while engaging with old and new fans alike. With the unique synergy between Miami and Madrid, we believe this is only the beginning for us in this incredible region, and we look forward to bringing the excitement and community of Dolphins football to Spain in 2025 and beyond."

EX-NFL STAR DISCUSSES WHY DEION SANDERS SHOULD STAY IN COLLEGE

The Dolphins announced their selection to play in Madrid less than a year after the NFL revealed it would host a game at Bernabéu Stadium at some point during the 2025 season. The Dolphins also hold international marketing rights in Spain as part of the league's Global Markets Program.

"The exciting first-ever game in Spain underlines the NFL’s continued commitment to expanding its global footprint and reaching new audiences across the world," said Brett Gosper, the league’s head of Europe and APAC.

Next season's game will mark the Dolphins' eighth on the international stage. The Dolphins are 2-5 in games played outside the U.S., with Miami's most recent appearance in 2023, when they took on the Kansas City Chiefs in Germany.

The NFL has been aggressively expanding its global footprint in search of new fans and revenue streams. Partnering with one of the most successful soccer clubs in the world is a branding bonanza.

"This partnership with the NFL will bring one of the world’s most prestigious sporting competitions to the Santiago Bernabéu, a stadium which has welcomed millions of passionate fans from around the globe to enjoy incredible sporting experiences," said Emilio Butragueño, Real Madrid's institutional relations director.

The NFL can schedule up to eight regular-season games internationally next season. In addition to the game in Spain, London is slated to host three games, while one game will be played in Germany.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Instagram’s profile grids will display content as rectangles instead of squares as part of a change rolling out “over the weekend,” Instagram chief Adam Mosseri said in an Instagram Story on Friday.

“I know some of you really like your squares. And square photos are sort of the heritage of Instagram. But at this point, most of what’s uploaded, both photos and videos, are vertical in their orientation,” Mosseri said. It’s a “bummer to overly crop them,” he added.

Mosseri recognizes that the change might be a “bit of a pain,” but he thinks that it’s a “transitional” pain. “I think people will, over the long run, be excited that more of their photos and more of their videos are actually visible as intended in the profile as opposed to aggressively cropped,” Mosseri said.

Mosseri’s justification is pretty similar to what he said in August when Instagram confirmed it was conducting a “limited test” of the change.

Instagram also announced today that it’s adding a new spot in your Reels feed where you can see videos that your friends have liked.

The Google Store has made an interesting change that shows the price of Pixel 9 phones if the buyer trades-in a device. 

more…

Welcome to episode 37 of Pixelated, a podcast by 9to5Google. This week, we preview Google’s product plans for 2025.

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A traveler's unexpected encounter at airport security raises concerns about public health.

AM Racing and Dead On Tools announced a 10-race sponsorship deal for Harrison Burton.

After much controversy at the announcing position, it has been reported that WWE announcer Pat McAfee could miss the upcoming episode of Monday Night Raw.

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The decision to move Monday's swearing-in means thousands of people with plans to visit Washington won’t be able to see President-elect Donald Trump’s second inauguration in person

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Katy Perry loved watching Taylor Swift make the whole place shimmer. The "Teenage Dream" singer was effusive in her praise of Taylor's Eras Tour, which she got to see in Sydney while performing in...

Music’s biggest names are joining forces for a pair of FireAid benefit concerts to support those displaced by the recent and ongoing wildfires.

Katy Perry, John Mayer, Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish and Gwen Stefani were among the A-Listers tapped to perform at the two upcoming shows, according to a press release. Other included artists will be Dave Matthews, Earth, Wind & Fire, Gracie Abrams, Green Day, Jelly Roll, Joni Mitchell, Tate McRae, Rod Stewart, Sting and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.

The concerts will even be the first time that Mayer, 47, and Matthews, 58, have ever performed together.

The benefit shows will be held at California’s own Intuit Dome and Kia Forum venues on Thursday, January 30. The show will also be broadcast by select AMC Theaters and online via Apple Music, Max, Netflix, YouTube and more streaming platforms.

The Weeknd and More Stars Who’ve Donated to L.A. Wildfires Relief

The one-night-only event will raise funds to help rebuild communities that were devastated in the natural disaster and help prevent similar incidents in the future.

“Contributions made to FireAid will be distributed under the advisement of the Annenberg Foundation, for short-term relief efforts and long-term initiatives to prevent future fire disasters,” a press release reads. “The Annenberg Foundation, with decades of philanthropic leadership in our community, including rapid response, will help coordinate a team to direct funds for the greatest impact. All proceeds from the FireAid benefit concert at Intuit Dome and Kia Forum will go directly to the event’s designated beneficiaries, as the LA Clippers will be covering the millions in expenses associated with the event.”

A string of wildfires broke out in Los Angeles earlier this month, rapidly ravaging thousands of acres of property and killing over 25 individuals. In addition, thousands of celebrities left the city limits under mandatory or voluntary evacuation orders.

Celebs Share How to Help Those Affected by LA Wildfires: Guide to Resources

“This is the most valuable thing I own. It’s a folder of photos of my father, spanning his life from being a baby, an educator, a husband and a father. It’s the only evidence of his life that will exist over time,” Mayer wrote via Instagram on January 9. “These are the ‘documents’ you read about people taking from their homes. When you hear someone say they’ve lost everything in a fire, this is much of that everything, if not all of it. Those who say they’ll be OK still have their folders and their albums. Those who are inconsolable have lost them. Just behind the immeasurable loss of life is the loss of the proof of life.”

He added, “I don’t practice prayer but tonight I will say one for everyone who no longer has these items. It’s not about the art and the collectibles. It’s the photos, the letters, the class rings, the eyeglasses and the things we keep to remind us that those we loved were here. May those who have lost so much find some semblance of hope and support from their family and friends. Stay safe, look out for yourself and for one another, and trust that humanity and all it entails, though sometimes hard to see, is alive and well. This is truly devastating.”

In regards to the benefit concert, Mayer wrote in an Instagram note that it was “an honor” to be included in the performance lineup.

“It’s an honor to be in a position to help a cause as important as rebuilding lives and communities that were devastated by wildfires,” he wrote on Thursday.

The FireAid Benefit Concert kicks off Thursday, January 30, at 6 p.m. PT and will air concurrently on multiple streaming platforms. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, January 22, at 12 p.m. ET via Ticketmaster.

Check the LAFD website for local wildfire alerts and click here for resources on how to help those affected.

The reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers' pitching rotation is set to get a big lift. On Friday, coveted Japanese pitcher Roki Sasaki announced he will play for the Dodgers.

The 23-year-old took to Instagram to reveal that he is inking a minor-league contract with the organization. Saski's Japanese team, the Chiba Lotte Marines, will receive compensation from the MLB franchise.

Saski is the latest Japanese-born superstar to land in Los Angeles in the past year. Last winter, superstars Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto joined the team. Ohtani was exclusively a designated hitter in 2024, but won his third career MVP trophy. He plans to return to the pitching mound in 2025. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman previously said that signing Sasaki was considered a "major priority." 

The combination of youth and elite level talent made Saski a highly-sought after prospect. However, the Dodgers were long considered the favorites in the race to land the pitcher whose fastball routinely reaches 100-mph. He can also throw an impressive splitter, which bolsters his potential to be an ace in a pitching rotation. 

A long list of MLB clubs submitted information about their respective organizations to Saski and Wasserman, his representing agency, in December during winter meetings. While several of those teams were granted in-person meetings, only three organizations made the short list. By January, the Toronto Blue Jays, San Diego Padres, and Dodgers were the final teams under consideration.

The Dodgers' projected pitching rotation already featured Tyler Glasnow, Yamamoto, Ohtani and Clayton Kershaw. Blake Snell, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, also signed with L.A. earlier this offseason.

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.