Brewers option Tyler Saladino, DFA Jake Petricka for Junior Guerra, Gio Gonzalez

With the Gio Gonzalez signing now official, a pair of roster moves needed to be made before Saturday night’s game against the New York Mets to get him on both the 25-man and 40-man rosters and make room for the returning Junior Guerra.

The Brewers went with the obvious moves, sending down extra infielder Tyler Saladino and designating reliever Jake Petricka for assignment.

Petricka recently accrued 5 years of MLB service time, meaning he could refuse any further minor league assignments. Considering he had already been sent down and recalled a couple different times during the season’s first month, he seemed likely to exercise that right. With David Stearns valuing flexibility more than anything else in his last few bullpen spots, that made Petricka a likely DFA candidate the next time the Brewers needed a 40-man roster spot.

That came when the Brewers signed Gonzalez, who will start Sunday’s series finale against the Mets, according to the team’s game notes for tonight’s game.

Petricka pitched well enough in his limited action for the Brewers, appearing in 6 games while covering 8 innings, allowing 6 hits and being charged with 3 runs. He did struggle with his control at times, though, issuing 8 walks. His last outing came last night (or rather, early this morning), when he pitched the last 2 innings of the Brewers’ 10-2 win that ended after 1 a.m. New York time, allowing just 1 hit and striking out a batter.

He seems likely to be claimed by someone needing relief help, but even if he isn’t, he’d likely refuse outright assignment to the minors, meaning this is likely the end of his time with the Brewers.

Guerra returns from the bereavement list after flying to Venezuela to be with his ill father. Saladino, meanwhile, heads back to San Antonio after making 2 plate appearances as a pinch hitter after being called up on Tuesday. He was brought in as insurance in case Mike Moustakas’ fractured finger kept him out for more than just a few games, but Moustakas didn’t seemed to be bothered by it on a rainy night in New York, going 2-for-5 with a double and driving in 2 runs last night.