If only there was some way the Madoff-victimized Amazins could pay Bobby Bonilla in Mets Money. Instead, as CNN’s Ethan Trex points out, the player who once famously dared the New York media to wipe the smile off his face, will once again be one of the most well compensated persons on the New York Mets payroll, save for those in uniform.
In 1999, Bonilla returned to the Mets for a second stint at Shea following his borderline disastrous free-agent signing in 1992. Bonilla wasn’t any better the second time around, so the Mets waived him in 2000. The problem was that the team still owed Bonilla $5.9 million in guaranteed salary.
Bonilla’s agents worked out a deal with the Mets where he would defer the salary if the team would pay him $1,193,248.20 every July 1 from 2011 to 2035. Not a bad deal for someone who was so bad the team basically paid him to go away.
Is this guy absolutely positive about those numbers? If so, that is unbelievably stupid, even for the Wilpons and Steve Philips. That comes out to over $28Million!?!?! That cannot be right! For that amount, he should be forced to drive the spring training bus, or something.
That can’t be right. Can that be right? That just can’t be right. Can it?
Even adjusting for inflation / devalued currency, that’s 1000% batshit insane.
On the other hand, the very idea is exactly the inspiration I need for my Power Point presentation to the White Sox concerning Scott Linebrink’s contract.