When MLB clubs are completing a trade there is a clause, “Player to be Named Later”, often abbreviated as, “PTBNL”, that allows one MLB club to select a player at a later date to complete the transaction.
This clause does not delay the completion of the transaction. One club will often provide a list of possible players from their organization to choose from by a specified date in the future.
General Information
There are a handful of reasons why teams agree to PTBNL transactions. If a team is uncertain which position they would like in return and a PTBNL allows them to reassess their areas of strength and weakness and subsequently get a better return in the trade.
The MLB team that will be supplying the PTBNL will give the receiving team a list of players (usually no more than 10) to choose from to complete the transaction. The nature of the transaction will allow the receiving club ample time to scout and evaluate these players before selection.
The trade must be completed within six months of the agreement. If no player or players have been selected to complete the trade, a price will be paid, in place of a player or players.
Examples
There have been many notable players that have been a “player to be named later” and have gone on to have successful careers. Michael Brantley was acquired by the Cleveland Indians, in a deal that sent CC Sabathia to the Milwaukee Brewers. David Ortiz was a PTBNL in a deal that sent him from the Seattle Mariners, the team that originally signed him as a professional, to the Minnesota Twins, the team he broke into the MLB with before moving on to the Boston Red Sox.
Trea Turner was selected in the first round of the 2014 MLB draft by the San Diego Padres but was announced as the PTBNL in a three-team deal between the Padres, Washington Nationals, and Tampa Bay Rays.
This situation was particularly interesting because MLB draft regulations prohibited players to be traded within a year of being drafted. Meaning Turner played the first half of his 2015 season with the San Diego Padres minor league affiliates before he could officially be sent to the Washington Nationals on June 14, 2015.
Another seemingly odd example of the PTBNL transaction is when the PTBNL is actually traded for himself. This is rare but has happened a handful of times in MLB history. In 2005, John McDonald was traded from the Toronto Blue Jays to the Detroit Tigers for a PTBNL. During that offseason, McDonald was traded back to the Blue Jays for cash, thus closing the deal.
Summary
The PTBNL transaction has been around for many years in the MLB. It provides flexibility in completing trades, especially if a time crunch is present, i.e. around the mid-season trade deadline. For the accepting organization, it provides the flexibility to further evaluate potential players and ensure they receive the best package for their organization.
Related Links:
https://www.mlb.com/glossary/transactions/player-to-be-named-later
Comments