Off-Topic Forum

For those who don't know, Bobby Bonilla hasn't played in a Major League Baseball game since 2001, and hasn't played for the Mets since 1999. Still, the Mets owe Bobby Bonilla $1.19 million every July 1 until 2035...$1 million plus interest every year for 25 years starting in 2011 to buy him out of a $5.9 million contract...

That is the craziest thing I have ever heard!!! ROFL

Wow! I did NOT know that. What a way to provide for his retirement!!! I can't believe NYM agreed to that just to buy him out of such a small contract.

And I just accidentally received a Bonilla card (well, sticker) in a trade Monday. I didn't even know for sure that it was him, just thought it looked like him. BTW, it was a 1989 Panini Sticker with no name on it (the All-Star subset). It was supposed to be Ozzie Smith who is the next sticker in the set.

Just finished reading an article on the aforementioned and what an interesting read and apparently this has happened with several other ex-players as well. If you get a second it's well worth the read.

I read the same article and was going to mention it, or link it, but then figured that why stop peoples' fun with this story.

But since you mentioned it:

https://www.sny.tv/mets/news/why-the-bobby-bonilla-day-mets-narrative-is-garbage/308650142

A lot of players get deferred money as part of their contracts.  What that article ignores is the fact that Bonilla did not negotiate that as part of his original contract, but rather as part of a buyout agreement.  The Mets COULD have simply paid him $5.9 million to get out of the deal in 2000.  Instead, they agreed to pay almost $30 million.  That's what makes the deal so noteworthy and what makes those comparisons a bit of an apple and orange situation...

If it was just in a vacuum I can see how/why the artilce is trying rationalize it. But the fact remains that he is getting paid more per year than current players are on their rookie deals.  Before deGrom signed an extention, Bobby Bo was making twice as much per year.  How do you think that sits with these kids who are trying to make it and get paid?  That's not a good image for the locker room.