DALLAS -- Max Fried's expected departure was far less dramatic than the exit of any previous Braves star. The 2021 World Series hero will forever be an Atlanta sports legend -- but at no point during this offseason was there reason to think he would remain with the only organization he has ever known.

His anticlimactic farewell was realized on Tuesday night, when he agreed to an eight-year, $218 million deal with the Yankees. The left-hander will receive $27.25 million per year during this deal that will expire in 2032, his age-39 season.

This agreement comes a little more than two months after Fried made his final start for Atlanta in Game 2 of the Wild Card Series against the Padres. He was emotional as he provided his postgame comments.

"[Wearing the Braves uniform] means everything,¡± Fried said. ¡°It's the organization that traded for me and gave me the opportunity to come to the big leagues and be an established big league player. I obviously don't know what's going to happen, but I have absolutely loved every minute of it, and hope to have many more.¡±

The free-agent departures of Freddie Freeman (after the 2021 season) and Dansby Swanson (after the '22 season) helped build the thought Fried could be the next star to exit. The expectation grew stronger as Fried remained without one of the extensions the Braves gave to their younger stars over the past couple years.

Before the 2023 season began, I asked an agent to project what Fried might receive as a free agent. The immediate response was, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter, he¡¯s not re-signing with the Braves.¡±

Fried finished second in 2022 National League Cy Young Award balloting, but left forearm stiffness limited him to 14 starts in 2023. He missed two more weeks this past season because of another left forearm issue. Still, the Yankees were willing to take a big gamble on the hurler, who will turn 31 on Jan. 18.

Braves fans will always recognize Fried as one of the most valuable pieces gained via the significant rebuild the club experienced from 2015-17. He was acquired from the Padres in December 2014 and debuted for Atlanta on Aug. 8, 2017. He posted a 3.07 ERA over eight seasons with the Braves and will always be remembered for the six scoreless innings he completed after his ankle was stomped while covering first base in the clinching Game 6 of the 2021 World Series.

? Nothing holding back Braves from adding to roster

While Fried¡¯s departure might stir memories, this development doesn¡¯t change the Braves¡¯ offseason approach. He was never considered a candidate to fill the team¡¯s need for a starting pitcher.

Chris Sale, Reynaldo L¨®pez and Spencer Schwellenbach will anchor the rotation until Spencer Strider returns from elbow surgery near the end of April. Ian Anderson, Grant Holmes, Bryce Elder and AJ Smith-Shawver serve as rotation depth.

But adding a more proven option might be prudent, instead of assuming Sale, L¨®pez and Schwellenbach will all remain healthy and effective after each of them exceeded workload expectations last year.

Holmes and Anderson are both out of options. This will help both with their bid to fill at least one of the two current rotation voids.

¡°We think there is significant upside there if [Holmes] can get a starting spot,¡± president of baseball operations Alex Anthopoulos said. "But that won¡¯t stop us from either trading for or signing a starter. When Strider comes back, hopefully, the top three guys we talked about are all ready to go and have had no health issues.¡±

Sale completed just 151 innings from 2020-23, but he remained healthy until his back began bothering him during the final weeks of this past season. He was unavailable during the Wild Card Series against the Padres, but he threw a bullpen at the end of that same week and hasn¡¯t had any further issues.

"I¡¯ve talked to him a couple times,¡± Braves manager Brian Snitker said. ¡°He feels great.¡±

Having a healthy Sale will help the Braves in their attempt to maintain the rotation strength they had as Fried established himself over the past few years, preparing himself for the great payday he realized on Tuesday.