Roberto Martin Antonio Bonilla agreed to a lucrative five-year, $29 million deal with the New York Mets on December 2, 1991. This was an astounding amount of money at the time, equal to $56 million in modern money.
Advertisement
From 1992 to 1994 as a result of the agreement, Bonilla was also the highest-paid player in the National League; his $6.1 million salary for the 1992 season broke the previous record for the highest single-season wage by a factor of $2.3 million.
Despite earning a record-breaking contract, Bonilla’s offensive output dipped a bit while playing for the Mets; he finished with a batting average of.278 with 91 home runs and 277 runs batted in.

However, he was still able to play in two more All-Star Games (1993 and 1995), and in 1993, he hit a career-high 34 home runs.
Advertisement
Regrettably, there were tensions between Bonilla and the New York baseball media throughout his time with the Mets. He issued a challenge to the group during his first news conference with them, saying that they would not be able to remove the smile from his face.
On another occasion, he even made a press box call during a game to voice his displeasure over a mistake he was accused of making. Yet, Bonilla’s brilliance and stellar career stats are indisputable.
What baseball player is paid for life?
On record, not baseball is paid for life. However, Bobby Bonilla will be paid until 2035.
Was Bobby Bonilla a good deal?
Bonilla receives his yearly salary from the Mets on July 1. One of the worst contracts in MLB history from the perspective of the franchise is largely regarded to be the five-year, $29 million agreement Bonilla signed with the Mets in 1991. In 2000, New York decided to buy out Bonilla’s contract as a result of this.


Leave a Reply