Home / Sports / Bobby Bonilla Day: Mets Still Paying $1.19M Annually!
Bobby Bonilla Day: Mets Still Paying $1.19M Annually!
1 Jul
Summary
- Bobby Bonilla receives $1.19M from Mets on July 1st annually.
- The payment continues through 2035, stemming from a 2000 buyout.
- Young MLB players earn less than Bonilla's annual payment in 2026.
On July 1, 2026, baseball fans note Bobby Bonilla Day as the former player receives $1,193,248.20 from the New York Mets. This payment is part of an agreement made in 2000 when the Mets bought out the remaining $5.9 million of Bonilla's contract. Instead of a lump sum, the Mets agreed to 25 annual installments, beginning in 2011 and concluding in 2035, with an included 8% interest.
This unique financial arrangement means Bonilla, who last played for the Mets in 1999, continues to collect a substantial sum long after his playing days. The Mets' ownership, under Steve Cohen, has embraced the tradition of Bonilla's payday. Notably, in 2026, several emerging MLB players will earn less annually than Bonilla's deferred payment.
Deferred money is a recurring theme in baseball, exemplified by Shohei Ohtani's recent deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Ohtani will receive $68 million annually from 2034 to 2043 on a significant portion of his contract. Other notable deferred contracts include those of Max Scherzer, Manny Ramírez, and Chris Davis, with Davis's payments extending through 2037.
