Chris Sale’s time with the Red Sox is officially over.

The Red Sox announced Saturday that they have traded the veteran left-hander to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for infielder Vaughn Grissom and cash considerations. Sale waived his no-trade clause to facilitate the trade, which marks the end of memorable seven-year run in Boston.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan was first to report the deal, and Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reported the Red Sox will send $17 million to Atlanta to cover a portion of the $27.5 million still due to Sale in 2024.

A seven-time All-Star, the Red Sox originally acquired Sale prior to the 2017 season in a blockbuster trade and he immediately became the ace of an eventual championship-winning rotation. Sale finished second in the Cy Young voting his first season with the Red Sox after striking out a career-high 308 batters, and in 2018 he posted a 2.11 ERA while recording the final out of the World Series.

Sale was subsequently awarded a five-year, $145 million contract extension, but injuries took their toll and the veteran hasn’t been the same since. Sale did not pitch in 2020 after undergoing Tommy John surgery and has only made 31 starts while pitching 151 innings over the past four seasons since his extension took effect.

Last year Sale enjoyed his best season since 2019, posting a 4.30 ERA over 102.2 innings, but injuries still cost him nearly two months. Now he will join a Braves club with World Series aspirations, and Atlanta hopes the veteran can help them keep up with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League.

For Boston, the deal marks the most dramatic move of new chief baseball officer Craig Breslow’s short tenure.

Coming less than a day after reportedly reaching a deal with free agent right-hander Lucas Giolito, the Red Sox shook up their rotation again by turning their most expensive asset into a potential starting second baseman of the future.

Grissom, who won’t turn 23 until January and still has six years of team control remaining, has appeared in 64 games for the Braves since 2022 and batted .287 with a .746 OPS at the MLB level. Since making his big league debut he’s often been blocked by All-Stars like Dansby Swanson, Ozzie Albies and Orlando Arcia, but in Boston he’ll have a wide open lane to start at second base, his primary position since reaching the majors.

Grissom’s arrival could also open the door for additional trades, allowing Breslow to draw from the organization’s impressive collection of middle infield prospects to land a top starting pitcher with multiple years of team control.

Regardless of what comes next, the decision to trade Sale is a bold move and a major reset for a franchise that has seemed stuck in the mud for much of the past four years. It’s also an indicator that Breslow isn’t afraid to take decisive action, which could potentially herald more big moves to come.

With Giolito in and Sale out, the Red Sox still have multiple holes to fill in their starting rotation. As of now the rotation projects as Brayan Bello and Giolito up front with some combination of Nick Pivetta, Kutter Crawford, Garrett Whitlock and Tanner Houck rounding out the back end. Another arm or two could still make a big difference, especially if the Red Sox are able to acquire a true No. 1 to lead the way.

As for the lineup, Grissom will help address two key needs, providing a right-handed bat while filling the club’s hole at second base, but the Red Sox are still expected to explore potential upgrades in the outfield, with free agent Teoscar Hernandez believed to be a top target.

It may have taken longer than most fans would have preferred, but the Red Sox are finally making their move, and much like Sale’s original arrival signaled a turning point in franchise history, his departure could mark another.