New York Mets outfielders Vince Coleman and Bobby Bonilla in 1993. John Cordes/Icon Sportswire

Bobby Bonilla still gets paid by Mets every July 1

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 7/1/21

Sure, there are many MLB players both past and present who receive signing bonuses and portions of deferred salaries on July 1.

But no matter how many big names get added to the list , Bobby Bonilla remains the most infamous.

It's July 1. That means the Mets will pay Bobby Bonilla another installment of $1.19M today.

He hasn't played in the majors since 2001, but he will be paid through 2035 ... when he'll be 72 pic.twitter.com/CDRxI3Xzkp
— ESPN (@espn) July 1, 2021

As CBS Sports reminds us, the New York Mets have been paying Bonilla a little over $1.19 million every July 1 since 2011, even though he hasn't played since 2001. And they will have to continue paying him until 2035.

In summary: The Mets owed Bonilla $5.9 million when they released him in 2000 but chose to defer the payment and spread it over 25 years starting in 2011. Due to interest, Bonilla's payday inflated from $5.9 million to $29.8 million over the next 11 years, and thanks to the Bernie Madoff scandal, New York remains on the hook for way more money than they originally planned.

The Mets reportedly have no plans to pay Bonilla a lump some to end the regular deferment plan. Although, owner Steve Cohen has joked with fans on Twitter about having a Bobby Bonilla Day at the ballpark every year.

Let’s take a vote .How about we have a Bobby Bonilla day every year .Hand him an oversized check and drive a lap around the stadium.Could be fun
— Steven Cohen (@StevenACohen2) November 20, 2020