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Nobody is going to voluntarily pay MORE to any player than they are forced to.
In addition, the innovators are going to typically be those teams that do NOT have lots of funds. Teams like Oakland or KC are going to be the ones far more likely to "gamble" on a new paradigm. The teams without money are looking for bargains - so they find the "cheap" guys they CAN get.
Of course, it is the majority that set the market. One idiotic team with money can reset the salary scale for ALL slugger types, (AROD deal), skewing the slugger pay scale. The smart team goes out and picks up the value cheaply.
But ... I wanted to see just how skewed the payroll issue was in regards to sluggers vs glove-first spray hitters.
#2 on the ALL TIME list of salary is Derek Jeter. The #16 guy is Ichiro.
So, the #2 highest paid player of all time managed 100 RBI exactly once in an 18 year career ... which is the same number of times he broke the .500 slugging line. Of course, this wasn't because the modern stats SAY he's a great defender. He plays short, and he "looks" like a great glove. But, all that aside, he does in fact rank 4th among all active players in total WAR.
I think it important to remember that even most of the guys that use the modern defensive stats either admit they are lacking or at the very least are suspect of their overall accuracy or predictive ability.
But, that might be a good study for someone to do --- find out which GM(s) have churned out the most value OVER payroll for the last decade. Or, (more time consuming), greatest value over salary specifically for players beyond their 6th season.