ASSIGNMENT+4,+10.4.10

READ "PAYOFF PITCH" ....I HAVE HARD COPIES OR YOU CAN GO TO WWW.DELICIOUS.COM/KATHY39420

THE NEW YORK METS WILL PAY RETIRED PLAYER BOBBY BONILLA $1.19 MILLION A YEAR FOR 25 YEARS UNDER TERMS OF A BUYOUT AGREEMENT SIGNED IN 2000. POSTPONING THE PAYMENTS FOR 11 YEARS ALLOWED THE METS TO AFFORD OTHER HIGH-PRICED TALENT, AND THEY REACHED THE WORLD SERIES. BUT LONG-TERM VALUE OF THE BUYOUT REMAINS IN QUESTION; THE METS HAVE REACHED THE POSTSEASON ONLY ONCE SINCE 2000.

1. THE ARTICLE SAYS THAT BOTH SIDES THOUGHT MR. BONILLA'S DEFERRED CONTRACT WAS A GOOD IDEA AT THE TIME. WHY?

2. WHY IS MR. BONILLA'S $5.9 MILLION CONTRACT ACTUALLY WORTH NEARLY $30 MILLION?