Happy Bobby Bonilla Payday!

[beervendor]

This has to be the most interesting contract in sports history.

Every July 1 the Mets issue a check for nearly $1.2M to former Met and Oriole Bobby Bonilla. This abomination will continue thru 2036. Additionally, Bonilla collects a separate payment of $500,000 annually thru 2028, shared roughly equally between the Mets and O's.

For a guy who never looked like he was working very hard, he sure knows how to retire in style.

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/105897/its-bobby-bonillas-payday

[ShoelesJoe]

Good for him. He earned it.

[jtschrei]

You are worth what you negotiate. I'm surprised more agents and players don't negotiate deals like this. I guess the retirement negotiated by the MLB Players Union is pretty strong so there is little incentive.

That's a lot of coin to be collecting until 2036! Geez!

[DrungoHazewood]

This has to be the most interesting contract in sports history.

Every July 1 the Mets issue a check for nearly $1.2M to former Met and Oriole Bobby Bonilla. This abomination will continue thru 2036. Additionally, Bonilla collects a separate payment of $500,000 annually thru 2028, shared roughly equally between the Mets and O's.

For a guy who never looked like he was working very hard, he sure knows how to retire in style.

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/post/_/id/105897/its-bobby-bonillas-payday

1) Why in the world would anyone call this "an abomination"? It's a creatively structured contract that sets him up well and makes sure he's not one of the many athletes who spent all of their fortune at age 27.

2) What's with the "never looked like he was working very hard" bit? He had a 15-year career on some very good teams with a solid value over 30 wins. As far as I know he never complained about being shuffled around from the outfield to third to first to DH.

I don't understand why there's anything to complain about here.

[mdbdotcom]

[bobmc]

[video=youtube;TuBVPIr5RzE]

[Barnaby Graves]

The deal actually makes a lot of sense, since $5.9 million in 2000 dollars is a totally different number in 2035 dollars.

That 8% interest is pretty sweet though. He's way ahead of inflation, which is part of why the deal looks so good.

[Enjoy Terror]

Just curious, and my apologies for being morbid, if Bobby Bonilla were to pass between now and 2035, would his family collect the remainder or is the contract void?

[Bahama O's Fan]

Smart agent to get a contract like that.

[Barnaby Graves]

Just curious, and my apologies for being morbid, if Bobby Bonilla were to pass between now and 2035, would his family collect the remainder or is the contract void?

Whoever gets the estate I am sure.

[beervendor]

1) Why in the world would anyone call this "an abomination"? It's a creatively structured contract that sets him up well and makes sure he's not one of the many athletes who spent all of their fortune at age 27.

2) What's with the "never looked like he was working very hard" bit? He had a 15-year career on some very good teams with a solid value over 30 wins. As far as I know he never complained about being shuffled around from the outfield to third to first to DH.

I don't understand why there's anything to complain about here.

Not complaining at all. "Abomination" was tongue-in-cheek - I don't fault any player (or owner) for negotiating the best deal they can. I love the outside-the-boxness of it all. Bet we could find some Mets fans who would disagree.

His defensive shortcomings and lack of speed (objective) and hustle (subjective), when combined with his undeniable offensive gifts made it all look pretty easy for him. Some players just never look like they're working that hard. That's all I was saying.

While he was seen as a malcontent in NY, he was never a problem during his stint with the O's. I met him once and we chatted briefly. He couldn't have been a nicer guy, nor had bigger hands.

[wildcard]

I am not sure which report to believe concerning the O's portion of the Bonnila deferred salary.

Here is a report from the New York Times:

He also remains on the Baltimore Orioles? payroll. That team?s $500,000-per-annum deferred payments began two months ago (2011) and extend until 2015. But he has to split that loot with the ex-wife.

http://nypost.com/2011/05/15/mets-has-been-bonilla-gets-30m-last-laugh/

[bpilktree]

It actually is a good deal for the team as well as they don't really pay him anything just interest.

[weams]

I am not sure which report to believe concerning the O's portion of the Bonnila deferred salary.

Here is a report from the New York Times:

http://nypost.com/2011/05/15/mets-has-been-bonilla-gets-30m-last-laugh/

This is the report I have always heard.

[OFFNY]

I am not sure which report to believe concerning the O's portion of the Bonnila deferred salary.

Here is a report from the New York Times:

http://nypost.com/2011/05/15/mets-has-been-bonilla-gets-30m-last-laugh/

Thanks.

That's not the Times though, it's the Post.