Bobby Bonilla had the greatest agent in sports history

[Coach34]

He now get 1.1 million from the NY Mets for the next 20 years- after retiring what- 15 years ago?

[ShotgunDawg]

Pure awesomeness. Every July 1st is Bobby Bonilla day

[Bubb Rubb]

He now get 1.1 million from the NY Mets for the next 20 years- after retiring what- 15 years ago?

It worked out for the Mets too. They put that money into an interest-bearing account and that's where Bonilla is being paid from. Then they took the money they saved from that year's payroll to sign Mike Hampton - a pitcher that led them to the world series in 2000. Then, when Hampton left via free agency, they got a supplemental first round pick that they used to draft David Wright.

[oldjoedawg]

BubbRubb, thanks for giving us the rest of the story....worked out well for all concerned.

It worked out for the Mets too. They put that money into an interest-bearing account and that's where Bonilla is being paid from. Then they took the money they saved from that year's payroll to sign Mike Hampton - a pitcher that led them to the world series in 2000. Then, when Hampton left via free agency, they got a supplemental first round pick that they used to draft David Wright.

[dawgs]

Yep, anytime you can defer money, it probably works out best for the team. Use the immediate savings on other signings, while being able to watch revenue grow over the next however many years plus investing some of their immediate savings giving them more than enough to pay the rest of the deal well in the future without having it affect payroll too much. Nats did that with the scherzer deal. I think he's being paid over 15 years or so, but only signed with the team for 7 years. Obviously you don't want a situation where you have too many deferred contracts, but 1 or 2 on the books is probably a smart move to land a key big money free agent.

Of course that doesn't get into how smart it is, in a post-rounds era, to sign any player who is about 30 (when most guys become free agents) to a long term big money contract, deferred payments or not.

[Todd4State]

The problem with a lot of baseball players who are 30 is they want big contracts until they are 40.

[tireddawg]

The problem with a lot of baseball players who are 30 is they want big contracts until they are 40.

Wouldn't you?

[M.Fillmore]

Dennis Gilbert negotiated a good contract to protect people who blow money and lack the discipline to save. Take less now, have more later. He did the same thing for Saberhagan. But Dennis Gilbert will manipulate and stab people in the back.

To know Dennis Gilbert is to want to keep your distance from him.

BTW, Gilbert isn't an agent anymore. He jumped over to back office management with the White Sox.