Today, The Mets Deposited The First Of 25 $1,193,248.20 Checks Into Bobby Bonilla's Bank Account

Jack Dickey

PublishedJuly 1, 2011

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Bobby Bonilla is 48. He hasn't played for the Mets since 1999. He hasn't played in MLB since 2001.

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But, back some time ago, when Howie Rose and Fran Healy called the games on TV, the Mets needed to release Bonilla without paying all they owed, so that they might free up cash to trade for Mike Hampton and sign—yes—Derek Bell and Todd Zeile.

So they struck a buyout deal with Bobby Bo. He'd get his $5.9 million for 2000. Beginning in 2011, with interest.

They did some fancy number-crunching, and decided Bonilla would collect checks of $1.19 million every July 1 until 2035, at which point Bobby Bo would be 73 and at which point you'll be able to find $1.19 million by rummaging in your couch.

Regardless, surfside drinks in Greenwich are on Bonilla this weekend. He called the deferred buyout "that beautiful thing." Mmhmm.

There's No Accounting for This [WSJ, h/t One Dollar Tip]