A Deal That Keeps Paying
When former All‑Star outfielder Bobby Bonilla steps onto the field, he is no longer swinging a bat for the New York Mets. Instead, he watches the scoreboard light up with a different kind of reward.
The Mets agreed to a deferred compensation plan that keeps Bonilla on the payroll long after his playing days ended. Under the terms of the agreement, the club will pay him $1.19 million each year, a figure that will continue to be disbursed until 2035.
The Numbers Behind the Deferred Paycheck
What makes this arrangement stand out is not just the size of the check, but the length of time over which it will be delivered. The contract, struck in the early 2000s, is widely cited as one of the most unusual financial deals in baseball history.
NPR’s Planet Money podcast has taken a deep dive into the economics behind the deal, with co‑host Kenny Malone explaining how the Mets structured the payments to ease their payroll while giving Bonilla a steady stream of income.
The report, produced by WBUR and distributed by NPR, highlights the quirky nature of the contract and its broader implications for professional sports finance.
For fans, the story is a reminder that even after a player retires, the business of baseball can keep surprising them with unexpected paychecks that stretch well into the future.