Let's look back on the time that the Cubs traded Dickie Noles to the Tigers for ... Dickie Noles

Pitcher Dickie Noles played a key role in several pennant races over his 11-year career, but he never had a September quite like he did in 1987. It was unusual enough to be a part of a September trade, since it was too late to be eligible for the postseason roster. And then he was traded for himself.
Noles first caught baseball's attention out of the bullpen during the Phillies' run to the 1980 World Series, dazzling with a 1.23 ERA in 7 1/3 innings as Philly won its first championship. By the end of the 1986 campaign, however, his career was in a bit of a rut after unsuccessful stints with the Rangers and Indians.
Fortunately for Noles, a former team gave him another shot. He was a non-roster invitee at Cubs Spring Training in 1987, and he ran with the opportunity: The righty became one of the most reliable relievers in manager Gene Michael's bullpen, notching a 3.50 ERA in 64 1/3 innings. But the Cubs were long since out of the postseason picture by September, and Tigers general manager Bill Lajoie was able to make a deal for him.

Lajoie knew that Noles wouldn't be allowed to contribute to the Tigers in the postseason, but with his club neck-and-neck with the Blue Jays in the AL East, he wanted a little more bullpen support. On Sept. 22, the trade was completed; Noles went to the Tigers for a player to be named later.
The results were mixed. Noles got the save in his Tigers debut that day against the Red Sox, nailing down an 8-5 win by inducing a ground out from Dwight Evans with the bases loaded.
His next couple appearances did not go as well, though, and they came in pivotal games against Toronto. Noles allowed a run on a hit and a walk over 1 1/3 innings on Sept. 25, as the Tigers bullpen turned a 2-0 lead into a 3-2 loss. The following night, he entered and immediately gave up a walk-off three-run triple to Juan Beniquez, though he attempted to make up for it on Sept. 27 in another one-batter save, retiring Jesse Barfield to clinch a 3-2 victory:

Detroit had seven games to go, but that was it for Noles' Tigers career; skipper Sparky Anderson never called on him again. While the Tigers did sweep their season-ending series against the Blue Jays to win the division, the Twins ended up taking Detroit out in the ALCS.
As for that player to be named later that Detroit promised the Cubs? The Tigers still had team control over Noles, but since the righty couldn't help them during the postseason, the team came up with a clever solution: On Oct. 23, they sent Noles back to Chicago. Just like the infamous Harry Chiti in 1962, Noles had been traded for himself.

Noles was granted free agency after the season and pitched just three Major League games for the rest of his career.
In the 30 years since Noles' unusual trade, only one other player, John McDonald, has ever been dealt for himself.