Today is Bobby Bonilla's Payday

[Ron Burgundy]

Best. Baseball. Contract. Ever.

http://www.espn.com/blog/new-york/m...la-day-his-annual-1-19-million-payday-is-here

Darren Rovell
ESPN Senior WriterToday, the New York Mets will pay Bobby Bonilla another installment of $1,193,248.20.

Every July 1, from 2011 to 2035, the Mets make the payment as part of deferring the $5.9 million the Mets owed him from the 2000 season, a year in which he didn't play for the team, because they released him in January. As noted last year, Bonilla's agent worked out a deal that deferred payment (with an 8 percent annual interest rate).

With seven payments now in, Bonilla has now collected $8,352,737.40. There are 18 more payments due to Bonilla through 2035. When all the payments are made, Bonilla will have turned that $5.9 million into $29.8 million.

But that's not all.

Bonilla also has deferred money that is being paid by the Mets and the Baltimore Orioles, who took Bonilla for the final year and a half (1995 and 1996) of his first Mets contract, a five-year deal signed in December 1991 for $29 million.

The two teams split a $12.5 million payment which comes in 25 installments. That deal started in 2004, so Bonilla has received 14 payments worth a total of $7 million, and he will receive another $5.5 million through 2028.

So to recap, Bonilla has already received $15.3 million in deferred money. Over the next 18 years, he has another $27 million to go.

All this looks even better from his home in Sarasota, Florida, where there's no state income tax.

 

[Punxsutawney]

Yeah, when the terms of that contract were first announced years ago, I could not believe it.

I just do not understand the rationale from the Mets' perspective.

I loved watching Bonilla with the Pirates. Like Bonds, he was kind of a dick, but an amazing player, whether playing 3B or RF.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

I just do not understand the rationale from the Mets' perspective.

Having New York City style TV money, I think they just didn't give a ****.
Many years ago when I worked at Allegheny General Hospital I turned a corner and literally bumped into Bonilla. I'm 6'1" and my head was even with his chest.