The New York Mets have once again made a payment to former outfielder Bobby Bonilla. This payment is part of a deferred payment plan that started in 2011. Bonilla signed a five-year contract worth about $29 million, but the deferred salary agreement began about 20 years later and will continue until 2035.
Bonilla was eventually traded to the Baltimore Orioles in 1995 and later won a World Series with the then-Florida Marlins in 1997. He had another stint with the Mets in 1999 and last played in MLB for the St. Louis Cardinals in 2001. Since then, July 1 has become a reminder of the Mets’ bizarre deal. Bonilla even appeared in a Mint Mobile commercial to poke fun at the deal, which New York fans now celebrate.
Despite being long out of the league, Bonilla, who is now 61, is still making more money than some current NFL players. ESPN’s Adam Schefter noted that Bonilla is set to make more money than Brock Purdy’s base salary. Purdy, a player for the San Francisco 49ers, is set to make $985,000. However, this salary may be his last as he enters his third season.
In a recent interview with the New York Post, Bonilla mentioned that team owner Steve Cohen had reached out about making an official day to celebrate the payment. However, he stated that he is not thinking about anything until his child is off to college.
It’s interesting to see how Bonilla’s deferred payment plan has become a unique part of sports history, with fans eagerly awaiting July 1st each year to see him receive his payment. And the fact that he is still earning more than some current NFL players shows just how unconventional and lucrative his deal with the Mets truly is.