The New York Mets delivered an annual deferred payment of $1.193 million to former outfielder Bobby Bonilla on Wednesday, July 1, 2026.
The payment continues a high-profile financial obligation for a player who last played for the franchise in 1999.
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According to reports from Yahoo Sports, the annual payout stems from a buyout agreement where Bonilla waived his $5.9 million salary for the 2000 season.
In exchange, he received 25 annual installments scheduled from 2011 through 2035.
The agreement was structured with an 8% annual compound interest rate, bringing the total deferred payout to $29.83 million.
Financial analysts note this return aligns closely with historical U. S.
stock market performances.
An initial $5.9 million investment in the S&P 500 in January 2000 would currently yield approximately $49 million with reinvested dividends.
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Mets ownership originally agreed to the deferral to clear immediate payroll, allowing the front office to trade for starting pitcher Mike Hampton.
Hampton posted a 3.14 ERA over 217 2/3 innings to help guide New York to the 2000 World Series before departing in free agency.
That departure secured the Mets a compensatory draft pick used to select franchise icon David Wright.
Background of the Deferred Deal
The deal became a subject of public scrutiny due to former Mets owners Fred Wilpon and the Wilpon family holding extensive investments with convicted Ponzi scheme operator Bernie Madoff.
The ownership group anticipated double-digit returns from Madoff to offset the 8% interest promised to Bonilla. However, the financial structure collapsed when Madoff was arrested.
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This culminated in a 2012 lawsuit where Fred Wilpon paid $162 million to a court-appointed trustee.
