[Jiggy_12]

Its sort of a game of chicken.

Lets say just for fun (these figures are completely made up), Donaldson was asking for 15 million and the Jays were countering at 8 million. Neither side can come to a deal and they submit their arbitration figures.

The arbitrator has to pick one of the two submissions (and nothing in between), based on players at similar ages and similar contract status and talent level.

If Donaldson holds firm at 15 mil with his submission, and the Jays come up to 11, Donaldson is running the risk of the arbitrator awarding 11, so its smarter to be conservative and lower his submission to a more reasonable amount in hopes it gets picked. Just as if the Jays were to stick to 8 million, no chance that gets picked and they run the risk of the arbitrator picking an outrageously high amount.. if Donadlson rolls the dice and submits one. dicey process and usually the two sides don't differ by much on their submisisons because of this.