What advantage is it to have a Pokemon hold a Master Ball?

I've been away from Pokemon for a few years but I remember when they brought in held items. The Pokemon could heal themselves during battle.

I read somewhere about Pokemon holding Master Balls. Why would they do this? I think the guy was talking about a traded pokemon that had one as a held item. It may be this is just a freebie that came with the trade... but perhaps there is a reason to have one as a held item?

There are some reasons to have a pokemon hold an item that does not have any effect when held:

1. Trading items with other people;
2. Transfering items between save files without having to use a paid service (give them to a different save file, delete your save, keep playing until you you can trade them again).
3. Some games have exploits that allow you to duplicate pokemon, including anything they hold. I remember using such an exploit in Pokémon gold to get unlimited Master Balls.
4. in case you really want to pick something up but your inventory is full, you're unwilling to delete anything and you don't want to run to the nearest PC to store an item.

Nzall did a good quick summary on the question already, but since Wigglenite mentioned the move fling, I think my answer can provide additional useful information.

As from Bulbapedia about held Items:

Though most items can be held by a Pokémon, many have no effect while held. Key Items and HMs cannot be held; in Generation IV, only Giratina can hold the Griseous Orb, and Apricorns and Poké Balls made from them cannot be held; from Generation V onward, TMs cannot be held. Any other type of item may be held, but medicine (except Berry Juice), TMs, evolutionary stones, Fossils, Repels, escape items, battle items, valuable items, exchangeable items, Mulch, Flutes, and Wings have no effect apart from changing the power of Fling and increasing the damage taken from Knock Off (from Generation VI onward). Poké Balls have no effect while held and cannot be flung.

In the case of the Master Ball I would strongly assume the purpose of the trade was a transfer of the item to another trade file. Even if it was a wonder trade, some people have no use for their Master Balls and like to give them away to make someone else happy.