Pujols asked for 10 in 04. 12-14 sounds about right.

Arbitration is all about comparisons to players with similar service time.

The criteria will be the quality of the Player’s contribution
to his Club during the past season (including but not limited to his
overall performance, special qualities of leadership and public
appeal), the length and consistency of his career contribution, the
record of the Player’s past compensation, comparative baseball
salaries (see paragraph (13) below for confidential salary data),
the existence of any physical or mental defects on the part of the
Player, and the recent performance record of the Club including
but not limited to its League standing and attendance as an indication
of public acceptance (subject to the exclusion stated in
subparagraph (b)(i) below). Any evidence may be submitted
which is relevant to the above criteria, and the arbitration panel
shall assign such weight to the evidence as shall appear appropriate
under the circumstances. The arbitration panel shall,
except for a Player with five or more years of Major League service,
give particular attention, for comparative salary purposes, to
the contracts of Players with Major League service not exceeding
one annual service group above the Player’s annual service
group. This shall not limit the ability of a Player or his represen-
tative, because of special accomplishment, to argue the equal relevance
of salaries of Players without regard to service, and the
arbitration panel shall give whatever weight to such argument as
is deemed appropriate.

Which you could do but not much of it would matter. Arbitration is all about comparisons to players with similar service time.

"most-accoladed player" Does this writer speak English?

When Ryan Howard went through the arbitration process, the comps he and his agent presented to the panel included a lot of players who had significantly more service time. The reigning MVP listed a lot of the other MVPs active in the game as well as some of the best sluggers of recent -- and not so recent -- past. The panel agreed and awarded Howard the player's requested figure rather than the team's offered one.

So why WOULDN'T he ask for $20 million? I can conjure up no good reason not to outside of thinking the media backlash will somehow be damaging. But if I'm him, with that body, and knowing how pitching careers are often dramatically cut short, ask for the money you can.

"But Howard still only got $10 mil"

Howard got what he asked for.

I don't expect Tim to ask for 18 mill. I'm just asking 'why not'? Why isn't he worth more than Zito? As much as Zambrano? And if the answer is, "he is", then why not consider asking for it.

In deciding to award the higher or lower salary, the panel may consider the following criteria:
(1) the player’s contribution to the club in terms of performance and leadership;
(2) the club’s record and its attendance;
(3) any and all of the player’s “special accomplishments,” including All-Star game appearances, awards won, and postseason performance;
(4) the salaries of comparable players in the player’s service-time class and, for players with less than five years of service, the class one year ahead of him.

Timmy could buy 3,768 pounds of pot, unless he decides to pay income tax.