Bobby Bonilla Day arrives on July 1 each year when the New York Mets pay the retired slugger $1.19 million as part of a deferred contract negotiated in 2000. The annual payment, which will continue through 2035, has become a symbol of unusual sports business deals, with other athletes and organizations now referencing similar arrangements.
·The Mets owe Bonilla roughly $29.8 million total through the deferred agreement struck after his 1999 season
·An NHL player contract modeled on the Bonilla deal structure has finally expired after years of payments
·Chris Davis and other retired players are now cashing in on their own deferred compensation arrangements on the same date
·MLB owners are pushing to eliminate future deferrals as the league seeks to modernize contract structures
·The deal has become culturally significant enough that financial institutions reference Bobby Bonilla Day for guaranteed income products
drawn from ESPN, SB Nation, WBUR, 401k Specialist · updated 7h ago