Every July 1st, the New york Mets have to send Bobby Bonilla annual payments of nearly $1.2 million for 25 years that started back in 2011 and won’t end until 2035.
The Mets get the headlines every year because of that contract, but just maybe, some of that attention should be directed to Atlanta.
Dan Lewis of The Athletic reported that the Atlanta Braves are still paying Hall of Fame relief pitcher Bruce Sutter. He retired back in 1988.
Just before the 1985 season, the Braves signed Sutter to a six-year, $9.1 million deal, but the contract was structured to where he would be paid $1.12 million per year over the course of 30 years.
“Sutter was only paid about $750,000 per year while under the Braves’ control,” Lewis wrote. “For the thirty years after he retired — 30!!! — the Braves agreed to pay him no less than $1.12 million per year, and potentially more if interest rates spiked above a negotiated floor of 12.3 percent. [They haven’t.] That ends in 2021, and it’s only 2018, so Bruce Sutter, at some point this year, received or will receive a check for $1.12 million.”
Sutter actually played 2 years after signing the contract and would retire with 4 left remaining. The Braves still made the decision to pay him the full $9.1 million up front.
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By the time this contract is paid off, Sutter would’ve been paid over $45 million for 3 years for a team he posted a 4.55 ERA for in 112 appearances.
