Report: Donaldson, Blue Jays set for Feb. 15 hearing

If the Toronto Blue Jays aren't able to work out a multi-year contract extension with reigning MVP Josh Donaldson in the next 10 days, the two sides will head to an arbitration hearing Feb. 15 to settle the third baseman's salary for 2016, a source told Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.

Donaldson, now arbitration-eligible for the second time, filed at $11.8 million following a superb inaugural season in Toronto, while the club countered with a $11.35-million salary proposal - a difference of just $450,000. Barring a multi-year agreement in the next 10 days, a three-person arbitration panel will hear arguments from Donaldson and the Blue Jays on Feb. 15, and the two-time All-Star will earn whichever figure they deem more appropriate (the arbitration process does not allow the parties to split the difference).

As one of the few "file-and-trial" teams in the major leagues, the Blue Jays will not negotiate one-year deals after exchanging arbitration figures with a player, preferring instead to let the arbitrators determine the player's salary for the upcoming season.

On Thursday night, Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins expressed his desire to keep Donaldson in Toronto beyond his three remaining arbitration years.

Blue Jays GM: Goal is to sign Donaldson to multi-year deal

"We want him here as long as humanly possible," Atkins told season-ticket holders who had assembled at Rogers Centre for the club's annual state of the union address.

Acquired last winter from the Oakland Athletics, the 30-year-old was instrumental in snapping Toronto's 22-year playoff drought last season, compiling 8.7 WAR with 41 homers and a .939 OPS in 158 games to edge out Mike Trout for the AL MVP award.