Happy Bobby Bonilla Day: Why the retired New York Mets star is ...

Today is the first day of July, and for the past 12 years, that has meant former New York Mets star Bobby Bonilla is $1.2 million richer.

Bonilla, who retired from Major League Baseball in 2001, collects a check for $1,193,248.20 from the Mets every July 1 from 2011 through 2035, when he’ll be 72 years old. The six-time All-Star is still receiving sizable payments from his former team after the two sides agreed to a deferred contract buyout in 2000.

That year, the Mets opted to buy out the remainder of Bonilla’s $5.9 million contract. However, Mets ownership at the time – comprised of Fred Wilpon, his son Jeff, and his brother-in-law Saul Katz – was invested with famed Ponzi schemer Bernie Madoff, and instead agreed to make deferred payments to Bonilla. That agreement included annual payments of about $1.2 million for 25 years, beginning July 1, 2011, through July 1, 2035.

Bonilla’s lengthy, post-retirement contract is one of the most unique contracts in all of professional sports, and has prompted sports fans to recognize each July 1 as Bobby Bonilla Day.

Even though Bonilla has been retired for more than two decades, his annual $1.2 million payment from the Mets is more than a number of current MLB stars. Current MLB players making less than Bonilla this year include Miami Marlins outfielder Jazz Chisholm ($749,500 salary in 2023), Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Shane McClanahan ($737,000), Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman ($733,900) Atlanta Braves pitcher Spencer Strider ($1 million), Seattle Mariners pitcher Logan Gilbert ($767,300), and Cleveland Guardians pitcher Triston McKenzie ($739,500), per Spotrac.