Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez could be activated as soon as next Thursday, according to ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.
Rodriguez will play minor league games in Florida on Friday and Saturday, and will work out in Florida on Sunday.
On Monday, he'll travel to Triple-A Scranton and play at least two games there, on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Yankees GM Brian Cashman called that a "preliminary plan" and said it would happen "weather permitting."
Olney says the Yankees want Rodriguez to play two full nine-inning games at third base before he's activated. Assuming he gets through his minor league rehab stint without any setbacks, he'd likely be on track to come off the disabled list and rejoin the Yankees on Thursday.
Rodriguez, who has been out since July 8 with a torn meniscus in his right knee that was surgically repaired July 11, is scheduled to serve as the designated hitter at Class A Tampa on Friday night in Florida, and play third base in a game on Saturday.
After this weekend's series with the Tampa Bay Rays, the Yankees travel to Kansas City for three games with the Royals beginning Monday night. Then they head to Minneapolis for four games with the Twins, beginning Thursday.
"Will we have him in Kansas City? I don't know," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said before Thursday afternoon's victory over the Los Angeles Angels. "I would think by Minnesota we would have him.
"We'll have to build him up," Girardi said. "I think the most important thing is that he feels comfortable and that he feels that he's moving freely."
At the time of his injury, Rodriguez was batting .295 with 13 home runs and 52 RBIs in 80 games.
Rodriguez still awaits a meeting with baseball officials about his alleged involvement in high-stakes poker games.
Major League Baseball started an investigation after Star magazine reported last month that several people saw Rodriguez playing in games hosted at Hollywood hotels and residences.
"I'm looking forward to [the meeting]," Rodriguez said Wednesday. "I'm concentrating on baseball."
No date for the meeting has been announced.
Information from ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney and the Associated Press was used in this report.