<p>Any updates on John Lackey regarding his rehab? I remember Bobby Valentine talking about Lackey's bullpen sessions, but has John Farrell had time to assess the right-hander's stuff?-- Trevor M., Ithaca, Mass.</p><p>At this point in the offseason, there really is no need to assess Lackey's stuff. By the end of last season, he was fully healthy and was ready to have a fairly normal offseason. In Spring Training, Farrell and pitching coach Juan Nieves will have plenty of time to monitor Lackey and see how his stuff looks coming off Tommy John surgery. Clearly, Lackey is an "X" factor for the Red Sox in 2013. If he can even get close to being the type of pitcher he was with the Angels, this would be a big boost for Boston.</p><p>Have a question about the Red Sox?</p><p>I had heard about a provision in Lackey's contract that would enable the Sox to keep him for one additional year at the Major League minimum due to the year lost to elbow surgery. Can you shed any light on that?-- Henry C., Albany, N.Y.</p><p><a href="http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130107&content_id=40870662&vkey=news_bos&c_id=bos">Keep reading...</a></p>