Looking at the numbers...
If the sox allow the option to vest, then the arb raises are added to the budget. The $22 mil was headed towards arb, now it is added. That means, the "savings" from Pom and Kimbrel will be eaten up by the arb raises. This means you'll have to let them walk and replace them either internally or via trade rather than re-sign one of them. Is Hanley worth losing either Kimbrel or Pomeranz?