What happened: Every July 1, the New York Mets send Bobby Bonilla a $1.193 million check as part of a deferred deal that runs through 2035. The retired third baseman has not played in decades, yet the payment has become an annual talking point across the sport.

Why it matters: The deferral let the Mets avoid a large lump-sum payout when they released him, spreading the cost over many years instead. Whether that trade-off was worth the long tail of yearly payments and constant ridicule is exactly the kind of front-office decision fans still argue over. Smart cash management or a deal that keeps aging badly?