Bonilla Day 2026: $1.19M check still cuts through Queens every July 1
The Mets’ annual Bobby Bonilla Day payout hits its 16th year in 2026, extending a deferred contract into franchise folklore and a six-figure tradition.
19 million check to Bobby Bonilla on July 1, 2026, marking the 16th straight year of a deferred-compensation ritual that began in 2000. 9 million of Bonilla’s salary at 8% interest. 8 million financial obligation through 2035.
In 2026, the 16th installment pushes the cumulative total paid to Bonilla past $19 million, with 10 more checks still to come. The payout is now larger than Bonilla’s original deferred principal, illustrating how deferred contracts can balloon over decades. The Mets’ front office has repeatedly defended the payments as a binding legal obligation, even as the annual ritual has drawn both praise for its consistency and criticism for its perceived absurdity.
