July 1 is widely known by Mets followers as Bobby Bonilla Day, a celebration that may proceed via 2035 because the 59-year-old collects his $1,193,248.20 verify from the workforce every time this yr.
Bonilla’s notorious deal is usually thought of the worst sports activities contract of all time, however the seemingly by no means ending settlement is in good firm. Right here’s a take a look at ten of essentially the most egregious contracts to ever occur in sports activities.
Bobby Bonilla
New York Mets, $1.2 million per yr via 2035
Regardless of retiring from baseball in 2003 and never donning a Mets uniform for the reason that 1999 season, Bonilla can count on a deferred cost of almost $1.2 million in his mailbox on July 1, courtesy of his former ballclub. The deal, which sees Bonilla receiving funds yearly from 2011 to 2035, got here to fruition earlier than the 2000 season, when the Mets launched him and turned the remaining $5.9 million owed to him into $29.8 million.
If Bonilla have been to take the sphere once more, he’d instantly rank because the Twentieth-highest-paid participant on the Mets energetic roster payroll, based on Spotrac.
Miguel Cabrera
Detroit Tigers, Eight years, $248 million (via 2023)
The Tigers inked their star first baseman to a long-term contract in 2016 following his decade of dominance. Cabrera produced MVP-winning seasons in 2012 and 2013, made 11 All-Star appearances and sports activities a profession .310 batting common. Nonetheless, the 39-year-old’s play shortly declined following his massive payday.
Cabrera mustered simply 16 house runs in 529 plate appearances the yr after signing his contract, later happening to overlook a lot of the 2018 season because of hamstring and biceps accidents. Though Cabrera hasn’t lived as much as his monumental deal lately, he sports activities a .300 batting common in 2022 and recorded his 3,000th hit earlier this season.
Gilbert Arenas
Washington Wizards, Six years, $111 million
The Wizards anticipated to get rapid manufacturing from Arenas once they signed him to the tune of $111 million in 2008. Nonetheless, the previous three-time All-Star was promptly sidelined with a knee damage, later receiving an indefinite suspension for bringing firearms into the Wizards’ locker room.
Arenas has not been shy when discussing his abominable contract, even recognizing it’s seemingly one of many worst offers in NBA historical past. The Wizards put the settlement behind them after they paid Arenas his last verify in 2017, seven years after he final performed for them.
Joakim Noah
New York Knicks, 4 years, $72 million
The Knicks clearly didn’t obtain the memo from their New York neighbor, signing Noah to a $72 million deal on Bobby Bonilla Day in 2016. Regardless of being a two-time All-Star, the coveted free agent had missed 53 video games the season earlier than because of shoulder accidents and was already in decline.
Noah appeared in simply 53 video games for the Knicks because of an assortment of accidents and a 20-game suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug coverage. The massive man was ultimately launched by the workforce in 2018, with the remaining ensures in his contract being stretched over three years.
Albert Pujols
Los Angeles Angels, 10 years, $240 million
Pujols joined the Angels in 2011 after dominating the league for 11 years. Previous to incomes his $240 million contract, the primary baseman collected 455 house runs to go alongside a monstrous .328 profession batting common and .420 on-base share.
The Angels knew they have been taking a danger by signing Pujols, who was getting into his age-32 season, to a 10-year contract. That danger didn’t repay – Pujols’ on-base share plummeted, whereas his strikeouts skyrocketed. He's at present amidst a feel-good reunion season with the St. Louis Cardinals, the workforce he starred with earlier than signing with the Angels.
Jacoby Ellsbury
New York Yankees, Seven years, $153 million
The Yankees snatched Ellsbury from the rival Boston Pink Sox in 2014, however would in the end come to remorse that transfer.
When Ellsbury was capable of keep on the diamond, the 38-year-old mightily struggled to reflect the manufacturing he displayed in his dominant last season with the Pink Sox. After settling a contract dispute with the ailing veteran, the Yankees can kiss the failed signing goodbye.
Ilya Kovalchuk
New Jersey Devils, 15 years, $100 million
The Devils hoped to see Kovalchuk play in New Jersey for a protracted, very long time once they signed the Russian left winger to an absurd 15-year contract that may’ve lasted till 2025. Actually, the group hoped to lock up Kovalchuk for even longer, providing him a 17-year deal that was shortly vetoed by the NHL.
Nonetheless, Kovalchuk’s time in New Jersey was short-lived – the hockey professional stepped away from the NHL in 2013, opting to play within the Russian KHL earlier than making a return with the Los Angeles Kings in 2018. As for his former workforce, the Devils’ have been fined $3 million and compelled to forfeit draft picks after their makes an attempt to sidestep the NHL’s contract guidelines.
Chris Davis
Baltimore Orioles, Seven years, $161 million
Davis earned a seven-year take care of the Orioles after displaying his highly effective bat in a number of robust seasons with the group. From 2012 to 2015, the star first baseman belted 159 house runs alongside a .256 batting common and .876 OPS.
Sadly for the Orioles, that each one disappeared following his huge signing. The 36-year-old’s tenure in Baltimore was marred with strikeouts, slumps and an unbelievable 0-for-54 stretch. The veteran didn’t enable his contract to come back to a becoming finish, retiring from the MLB one yr earlier than its end result in 2022.
Rick DiPietro
New York Islanders, $1.5 million per yr via 2029
DiPietro secured a daft 15-year contract from the Islanders, a deal that seemed to be good throughout its infancy. Within the first two seasons enjoying underneath his new contract, the goaltender recorded a .911 save share and earned a spot on the 2008 All-Star workforce. This success, nonetheless, was short-lived.
An array of accidents together with a damaged jaw, concussions and points together with his knees and groin handicapped DiPietro, who was solely capable of muster 50 appearances over the following 5 seasons. The Islanders waived him in 2013, however are reminded yearly by the 16-year payout schedule which has them paying DiPietro $1.5 million a yr.
Jay Cutler
Chicago Bears, Seven years, $126.7 million
The Bears had excessive hopes for Cutler, inking the quarterback to a seven-year contract with the hopes of lastly discovering their franchise quarterback. These plans went awry, nonetheless, because of Cutler’s inconsistent play on the sphere – he led the league with 18 interceptions in 2014.
Cutler in the end retired from the NFL following a disappointing 2016 season, later returning to the game with the Miami Dolphins. A change of surroundings in the end didn’t do a lot for the quarterback, who formally known as it quits in 2017.
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