Yankees Remove Weaver From Starting Rotation

Jeff Weaver has lost his job in the New York Yankees’ starting rotation to Jose Contreras. By the end of the week, Weaver could lose his roster spot too.

Contreras, sidelined since early June by a strained right shoulder, will return Sunday and start against the Baltimore Orioles. Yankee Manager Joe Torre said Weaver would either be sent to the bullpen or to the minor leagues until rosters expand Sept. 1.

Contreras, who went on the disabled list June 7, was scheduled to make another minor league rehabilitation start today. But the Yankees decided he was ready to return after he allowed two hits and struck out 15 Saturday in seven shutout innings for the Class-A Staten Island.

“Like I’ve said before, I’m taking it all as a growing experience,” Weaver said. “I’ve got no problem. I’ll go get my work done and continue to try to help this team win. I figured it would happen for the postseason, anyway.”

Weaver is 7-9 with a 5.80 earned-run average in 23 starts and two relief appearances this season. He has struggled even more lately, going 2-1 with an 8.61 ERA in August.

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Left-hander Mark Mulder of the Oakland Athletics, who left Tuesday’s game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park after two innings with what originally diagnosed as a right hip strain, flew to Arizona Wednesday to see a physical therapist.

Right-hander Tim Hudson, hit on the hand by a line drive hit by Toronto’s Dave Berg last Saturday, was scratched from his scheduled start today against the Red Sox.

Mulder was examined by Oakland’s medical staff and Manager Ken Macha said the injury was diagnosed as “tendinitis.”

Hudson was pushed back to Sunday. Rich Harden will take his place against Boston’s Pedro Martinez in today’s game.

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Colorado right-hander Shawn Chacon will sit out the rest of the season because of a nagging elbow injury. He went on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday for the second time this season because of inflammation in the elbow.