Niese, whose pitching shoulder was so bad that he says he "probably should've missed the first month of the season," is fully healthy and ready for the season, the NY Daily News reports. Niese is the sole lefty in the Mets' rotation, which boasts eight pitchers for five spots, so his spot looks secure. But Steven Matz is ascending and could challenge for a spot by mid-year, possibly making Niese, signed for two more years with two club options, expendable.