They have no leverage. They'd let him go and save the money, or keep him and pay him the rest of his salary when the team is going nowhere. If they don't plan on making him a QO keeping him wouldn't make sense. Of course this would be fine if they intended on making him a QO and taking the compensation if he goes elsewhere.. but I don't think Donaldson would decline the QO. If he was playing and performing no question someone would claim him. His stock has fallen.