Fantasy sports podcast: What a short season means for Josh Bell and Bryan Reynolds, Cam Newton impact

Is this for real? A fantasy sports podcast where we can actually talk about sports!?

Will wonders never cease?

Major League Baseball teams are reporting for spring training 2.0. So, fantasy leagues that never ended up drafting are finally doing so.

Jeff Erickson of RotoWire joins me to discuss strategy for the 60-game season sprint. And even if your league has already drafted, there may be some things to consider regarding trades.

Jeff and I tackle quite a few involving the Pirates. Like for instance, we both think Bryan Reynolds’ value goes up in a shortened season. That’s especially the case for him when it comes to his ability to hit for average. He’s got consistency. And he’ll get tons of playing time.

Josh Bell may be the inverse of that. Month-to-month, he has developed a boom-or-bust reputation as it is. Hence, in what will amount to roughly a two-month season, that risk-reward gets all the more heightened.

Are there any Pirates pitchers worth drafting? At all? Starters or relievers? Jeff says yes. But maybe not until somewhere very deep in your draft.

Then there is the topic of speed. I think that’s being overvalued this year. I’ll tell Jeff why, and see if he agrees.

Then we get into the topic of Cam Newton joining the New England Patriots. There’s a trickle effect here for other Patriots players, too. I’m of the opinion that Newton’s impact will be more on the actual football world and not so much on the fantasy results. Jeff tends to disagree. But his theory is all about how much the Patriots let him run. That’ll be interesting to watch.

Hey, anything will be interesting to watch at this point. So, get your fantasy advice now.

LISTEN: Tim Benz and Jeff Erickson talk strategy for a 60-game MLB season