If, as the author contends, meat can be regarded as a water-saturated matrix of proteins [1], then the pressure inside the meat will rise to match the external pressure. The only way for a pressure differential to form would be if the matrix formed a very rigid shell (even a slight flexibility would allow the pressure to equalize), but it does not.
Furthermore, because water is almost incompressible, this occurs without any appreciable change in volume. The author suggests that if the matrix compresses, then that will expel water, but this will only be the case if the voids in the matrix become smaller. It's more likely, I think, that the only change would be that the walls of the voids will become thinner, as the water inside the voids can follow the pressure increase without changing appreciably in volume: in effect, the water inside the voids supports them against the pressure outside.
All of this assumes the pressure is being applied equally in all directions, which is the case if you are applying the pressure to the marinade, rather than squeezing the meat in one direction.
[1] Or a cellulose matrix in the case of vegetables.
Dry-brining cuts out the unnecessary added water by using the natural moisture content of the meat to create a concentrated brine that, when given enough time, is naturally absorbed back into the meat before cooking.
Season a steak with kosher salt, and within a few minutes, you will witness osmosis at work: Liquid from the steak will bead up on the surface of the meat, drawn out by the salt. Wait another ten minutes, and that liquid from the beef will have started to dissolve the salt, forming a concentrated brine
Edit: it's not the same plot at all but this reminded me of the short story, "The Nothing Spot" (1978): http://vintage.failed-dam.org/nothing.htm
I wish more browser apps had a reading mode