Just call him Christian Bonilla.

Some eyebrows were raised when the Brewers inked superstar outfielder Christian Jordan Fuller Jerseys Yelich to a big extension in early March,paying him $215 million over nine years through his age 37 season. The final year of the deal is a mutual option.

But there's a small, small$28 millionkicker:$4 million of Yelich'syearly salary between between 2022 and 2028 will be paid out after his contract is up until he turns 50 years old.Yelich will start cashing that deferred money in 2031, with annual payments of $2.5 million paid out every July 1 if the Brewers buy out their end of the option. The deferred payment decreases to $2,333,333 million each July 1 if there is no buyout.

On one hand, it's a big win for Milwaukee, whichwill be paymuch le s than market value annually for Yelich had he hit free agency following 2021.On the other, you have to wonder how much the uncertainty of free agency Sony Michel Jerseys and a potential loomingwork stoppagefactored in Yelich'sdecision, urging him to take this deal.

MORE:

So, here's the thing: Yelich probablywould have made a lot more than $215 million on the open market. There's a good chance that number would be closer to $300 million than $200 million.

We should never be siding with billionaire owners with focus on the bottom line over millionaire players with focus on bettering their situation and cashing in on their uniquetalents and abilities. But if teams want to add a little bit more money over a long aloooong time to help keep their stars around, maybe it's not a bad idea.

Deferred money isn't inherently a dirty thing.Players won't always agree to such terms, as deferred money comes with a lot of hiccups, the change in the value of the dollar over the duration of the deal the chief reason.Deferred money doesn't affect the average annual value of a contract, hence not really affecting a team's payroll situation, which is why teams take the gamble sometimes.

Obviously, deferred cash isn't without its warts. The value of $1 Matt Gay Jerseys million is going to be le s in 10 years than it is now. Taking the money up front is stable for the player. There are also a lot more players earning deferred money than you may believe.

MORE:

Bryce Harper turned down the Nationals'$300 million offer because a fair amount of that money was deferred. The White Sox reportedly offered deferred money to free agents they were chasing following the 2018 season, and mi sed out.

Washington did eventually hit home runs on both Stephen Strasburg and Max Scherzer, both of whom accepted big-money deals with big deferred money. If teams like the Brewers, who aren't really known for spending big money,can keep their stars around by offering deferred money, it's not all bad.

But, let's be clear. There's not really an excuse for MLB teams to be crying poor, though some act like it. Contracts should be paid out up front.The use of deferrals can be a valuable tool for both sides as long as the player understands the risks and limited benefits.

Teams like the Indians, Piratesand, even more recently, the money-printingRed Soxshun from wanting to pay out money, even if the money is there for them. With the wayTV rights rule baseball now, paying teams ungodly amounts of money to broadcast their games, there's a solid, consistent revenue stream coming from something other than Aaron Donald Jerseys ticket sales and conce sions to help supplement teams' payroll situations.

But if players are willing to accept deferred money, even with the concept's flaws and faults, maybe it's an OK middle ground for the teams, playersandfans to stick around with each other longer.