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What exactly does "Player to be named later" mean?

Obviously I know what the term means, but what does it actually mean. Why does a team do it?

When two teams agree on a deal involving a player to be named later, they aren't trusting to come to an agreement later in the year/the following year, are they? Is there generally a couple players that the two teams agree it will be one of and then one is chosen at a later point in time? Do the teams recognize who the player will be but one team wants to keep him on the other so he continues to get more playing time?

Do you remember back in 1987 when the Tigers traded a player to be named later for Dickie Noles? When they were through with him after the season, they named him as the player to be named later.
DETROIT GETS: Dickie Noles
CHICAGO GETS: Dickie Noles

Strange. So what's the point of trading for a Player to be Named Later?

When the Tigers traded Jeff Weaver, the "player to be named later" was some guy named Bonderman.

If you google Mike Maroth traded to the Cardinals, you should be able to find the article...but Dombrowski said that there is a list of 3 player the Tigers can choose one from by a certain date. None of them are top of the line prospects though.

GenshiYagyu wrote:What exactly does "Player to be named later" mean?

Obviously I know what the term means, but what does it actually mean. Why does a team do it?

When two teams agree on a deal involving a player to be named later, they aren't trusting to come to an agreement later in the year/the following year, are they? Is there generally a couple players that the two teams agree it will be one of and then one is chosen at a later point in time? Do the teams recognize who the player will be but one team wants to keep him on the other so he continues to get more playing time?

Do you remember back in 1987 when the Tigers traded a player to be named later for Dickie Noles? When they were through with him after the season, they named him as the player to be named later.
DETROIT GETS: Dickie Noles
CHICAGO GETS: Dickie Noles

Strange. So what's the point of trading for a Player to be Named Later?

Also, in baseball, a player who is just drafted and hasn't been in your organiztion a year yet, can't be traded so they say he is a player to be named later and when the year is up, they send him over... I believe this is what happened with Bonderman

Thanks for both of the replies. You provided me with two reasons why teams trade for a player to be named later. Sweet.