Well I guess I didn't make it simple enough. They're free agents. You have the ability to offer whatever. Who would you be willing to offer more to? Who would get more on the open market?
I edited in a further answer to your question.
But again.... I thinks Simmons has slightly broader skills. I think those skills are slightly more 'valuable'... but if you don't factor in the cost to obtain, it's a pointless discussion.
It's not pointless. It's a discussion about who brings more money in. That's the point and it's a key one in the context of this conversation.
Of course they're going to pay people based on what think they're worth, so if they're willing to pay Simmons much more, that suggests they think he brings in enough money to justify the additional cost. Obviously we aren't talking about paying Simmons exactly what he brings in while paying SVP a million less than what he brings in.