Story perspectives

Mets Continue $1.2 M Annual Bobby Bonilla Payments

7/2/2026

Summary

Mets Pay Bonilla

The New York Mets pay Bobby Bonilla $1,193,248.20 each July 1 under a deferred-payment deal.
Payments began July 1 2011 and will continue through July 1 2035, totaling nearly $30 million.
The deal started when the Mets released Bonilla in January 2000 while owing $5.9 million, adding 8 percent interest to create the annual checks.
Fred Wilpon expected Bernie Madoff’s returns to offset the cost.
After Madoff’s Ponzi collapse the Mets received no returns, leaving the contract binding.

Summary

Owners Ban Deferrals

Owners propose a labor amendment banning new salary-deferral contracts starting in 2027.
The amendment leaves existing deals intact, requiring the Mets to keep paying Bobby Bonilla through 2035.
Owners tie the ban to a hard salary cap and floor, saying it will level baseball’s economics.
MLBPA interim executive director Bruce Meyer said deferrals are a fundamental right that offers flexibility and should stay negotiable when they improve contract value.

History

Historical Context

In the 1980s owners colluded in free-agent markets, leading to a November 1990 settlement of $280 million to players. A 1995 federal judgment added a $269 million award and highlighted the pattern of hidden payroll tricks. Building on that legacy, the 2027 owners’ amendment banning new deferral contracts, opposed by MLBPA director Bruce Meyer, seeks transparent salary caps.

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Mets Pay Bonilla

The New York Mets pay Bobby Bonilla $1,193,248.20 each July 1 under a deferred-payment deal.
Payments began July 1 2011 and will continue through July 1 2035, totaling nearly $30 million.
The deal started when the Mets released Bonilla in January 2000 while owing $5.9 million, adding 8 percent interest to create the annual checks.
Fred Wilpon expected Bernie Madoff’s returns to offset the cost.
After Madoff’s Ponzi collapse the Mets received no returns, leaving the contract binding.

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