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Who pays Bengie's Bonus?

This is from a side discussion in another thread, but I thought it might be worth asking here as well:

Who is on the hook for Bengie's 2010 bonus money? It appears that in addition to his $4.5M base salary, Molina will start earning extra cash when he makes his 90th start ($.25M). Every 5th start thereafter, he gets another $.25M until he maxes out at $1.5M total with his 115th start (or something along those lines). While I am not completely familiar with the situation down in Texas, I get the sense that Bengie is in line for the lion's share of starts, so it is not inconceivable that he may earn a good portion, if not all, of his incentives.

Glaring omission in the press

All of the press reports so far (that I've found) state that Bengie was sent to the Rangers along with the remainder of his $4.5M base salary, but I have yet to see any reports that address his potential bonus pay. Normally I would assume (correctly or incorrectly) that Texas would pick it up, probably since their personnel decisions would directly influence his ability to earn them.

Rangers not allowed to take on additional salary

The Rangers, however, are in bankruptcy and pending a sale. Some combination of the bankruptcy judge and MLB must approve all trades (and likely scrutinize all of their liabilities). The press uses the shorthand Rangers not allowed to take on additional salary to describe their limitations, but I'm not sure if that's absolute. But since the Giants had to pay the entire $2M+ left on his base salary, it's obvious that cash liabilities are priority number one. Would the judge/MLB in good faith to the Rangers' creditors allow the them to take on this additional liability, even if it's deferred? Would the MLBPA even consider allowing this to happen? I doubt it.

Information on Bengie's contract dubious from the start

The trade as reported, sounds like a fairly equal trade by most measures: the cash and players involved roughly evens out. However, Bengie's contract, from the very beginning, has been tip-toed around by the Giants FO. Consider that at the time they signed him for $4.5M, we were all a little shocked because it looked like the Mets were going to pay him $5.5M. It was only after a few weeks passed that the incentive package was quietly reported (and even then, as I recall, it was a bit vague). The terms of the contract that was potentially worth a cool $6M was, by my observation, diluted in the press over time.

Passive PR ploy?

I understand the Giants' need for good PR to keep the fan base on their side, therefore I can see why they wouldn't mention Molina's incentives when announcing this trade if they continue to be on the hook for them. To flat out lie is unforgivable, but to aid in under-reporting a (crucial? substantial?) part of the story? You can spread the blame among the beat writers and FO, especially if it comes out several weeks from now or in the off-season. As long as the press doesn't ask the question, no problem!

Contrived "Square Deal"

Personally, the Bengie drop is good enough for me for all the obvious reasons. The extra $1.5M? Whatever (it's not my money). Yet, it's the way that the Giants are treating the situation that's got me bugged: like a booty call being whisked out the front door before your roommates come home (uh, so I'm told). Unless, of course, I am totally out in the LF View Reserved section on this one, it appears that the Giants are trying to contrive a "square deal."

Do the Giants pick up Bengie's bonus money? Has anyone found any reports that address this (and quash this "conspiracy theory").

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