The Associated Press

NEW YORK - Jose Contreras will return to the New York Yankees this weekend and is scheduled to start Sunday's game against the Baltimore Orioles.

Contreras has been on the 15-day disabled list due to a right shoulder strain since June 7. He had been slated to make another minor-league rehabilitation start Thursday, but manager Joe Torre said before Wednesday's game against Kansas City that Contreras' rehab outing could be canceled.

New York announced the move during its game against Kansas City. It appears that Contreras' return could lead the Yankees to option struggling Jeff Weaver to Triple-A Columbus.

Contreras signed a $27 million, three-year with the Yankees after defecting from Cuba last year and is 3-1 with a 4.62 ERA. Weaver is 7-9 with a 5.80 ERA - he is 2-1 with an 8.61 ERA in August.

EXPOS: Montreal signed third baseman Todd Zeile, who was released Sunday by the Yankees. Zeile batted .210 with six homers and 28 RBI in 66 games this season with the Yankees, and was 0-for-10 as a pinch hitter.

ROCKIES: Right-hander Shawn Chacon was shut down for the rest of the season because of a nagging elbow injury. Chacon, who went on the disabled list Tuesday for the second time this season because of inflammation in his pitching elbow, was 0-4 since his previous stint on the DL.

ANGELS: Anaheim put shortstop David Eckstein on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday and called up Trent Durrington from Triple-A Salt Lake City.

Eckstein has nerve irritation in his right hamstring, a condition that was discovered when he had an MRI on his lower back Monday. He was put on the DL retroactive to Aug. 19.

Eckstein was hitting .302 since the All-Star break and was at .254 overall. His .984 fielding percentage is second among AL shortstops to Alex Rodriguez of Texas.

Durrington batted. 304 with seven homers, 54 RBI and 35 stolen bases for Salt Lake City.

TIGERS: Detroit claimed right-handed pitcher John Ennis off waivers from Atlanta on Wednesday and optioned him to Triple-A Toledo.

Ennis, 23, was 2-11 with a 5.56 ERA in 28 appearances, including 15 starts, at Triple-A Richmond this season.

DIAMONDBACKS: Right-hander Curt Schilling had an MRI on his sore left knee Wednesday that showed he has a bone bruise.

Schilling will be able to make his scheduled start Friday against the Chicago Cubs, trainer Paul Lessard said.