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Rather than abstractions, a specific example (even one example) such as Trout and Trumbo vs Pujols is a good add to the discussion.
Agreed too that the macro question is:  how do you put "unproven" hitters, with their careers at stake, into a loose and self-assured frame of mind?  A #4 hitter might help with that; Zduriencik seemed to think so. ... as you point out, the question is moot for Trout (and maybe Carp and Seager).  There are a lot of roads to Rome.
Adding to the complexity of the question is that Zduriencik believes in a Beane-style 13-to-make-9, with players "proving that they've earned it."  This creates a situation in which a Mike Carp, for example, has to publish or perish as it were.
If it were me, I'd be looking at Cool Papa's offseason approach:  a rainmaker #4 hitter, a revamping of Safeco, and some young hitters who will then have 500-1000 ML at bats behind them...