While the entire country celebrates July 4th as Independence Day, Bobby Bonilla likely uncorks some champagne three days before, on July 1, when he annually receives $1,193,248.20 from the Mets.
Bonilla, out of baseball since 2001, receives that amount every year until 2035, starting in 2011. Bonilla was owed $5.9 million by the Mets when the two sides agreed to a buyout after the 1999 season. It called to defer payments at an eight percent annual interest rate. And so, instead of paying him $5.9 million, they will end up paying him $29.8 million for not playing for them.