The Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Angels are making their final pushes for Japanese pitcher/outfielder Shohei Ohtani by acquiring international slot money from the Minnesota Twins.

The Mariners traded minor league catcher David Banuelos to the Twins for $1 million in international slot money while the Angels traded outfield prospect Jacob Pearson also to the Twins for an additional $1 million in international bonus pool money.

The move gives the Mariners $2.55 million available to give the highly coveted Ohtani, while the Angels now have $2.315 million. Ohtani has met with both the Angels and Mariners after narrowing his list of potential landing spots down to seven this past weekend.

Only the Texas Rangers can offer the 23-year-old two-way phenom more money with $3.535 million available in their international bonus pool.

Ohtani was put up for bid on Dec. 1 by the Pacific League's Nippon Ham Fighters for the maximum $20 million posting fee and met with the Mariners, Angels, Rangers, San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres and Chicago Cubs in-person this week. Once he has reached a decision on who to play for, the team and Ohtani will have until 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 22 to sign a contract.

The 23-year-old is limited to a minor league contract because of restrictions imposed by the MLB collective bargaining agreement. 

Ohtani has spent the last five seasons with the Nippon Ham Fighters in Japan’s NPB, putting up impressive numbers on both sides of the diamond. For his career, the Japanese international has a 42-15 record with a 2.52 ERA and 624 strikeouts in 543 innings, and a .286 batting average with 48 homers and 166 RBI.

The 2016 Pacific League MVP was hampered by thigh and ankle injuries in 2017 and only managed to pitch in five games, compiling a 3-2 record with 3.20 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 25.1 innings pitched. In 65 games at the plate, he hit .332/.403/.540 with eight home runs, 31 RBI and 16 doubles.