Daily Red Sox Links: John Lackey, David Ortiz, Johnny Pesky

Sox general manager Ben Cherington sees John Lackey "in all likelihood" pitching past 2015 following his comeback from Tommy John surgery in the offseason of 2011. (Meredith Perri; WEEI)

Your yearly column about how great David Ortiz is when it matters most. These may end up being what we miss most of all when he (eventually) retires. (Ben Shapiro; Masslive.com)

A considerable amount of memorabilia from Johnny Pesky's time with the Red Sox will be a part of an auction this Saturday. Among the pieces of the Pesky estate to be bid upon are his 2004 and 2007 World Series rings, featured along other non-Pesky items like a bat signed by Ted Williams. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the items will be going to the Jimmy Fund. (Sam Galanis; NESN)

For reasons that became clear last night, the Red Sox were extremely worried about former outfielder Jaboby Ellsbury heading into their first series of the season with the Yankees. (Scott Lauber; Boston Herald)

While the opinions may be split in the media and among fans, a sizable portion of the Red Sox players had no issue with the pine tar on Michael Pineda's hand. Included among the players that dismissed the issue directly were Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz and the losing pitcher, Clay Buchholz. (Brian MacPherson; Providence Journal)

According to Fox Sports Ken Rosenthal, a trio of Red Sox players played a major role in the recent changes to the league's Joint Drug Agreement and the so-called "Peralta rule". The players were motivated to take action after playing the Tigers' Jhonny Peralta in the ALCS, and brought their umbrage directly to the union after the season ended. (Ken Rosenthal; Fox Sports)

Anyone interested in a deep dive through the Red Sox farm system would do well to check out this detailed break down of the potential future of the Red Sox pitching staff. (Sox Prospects)