NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Yankees strengthened their bench on Wednesday when they signed free agent infielder Todd Zeile to a one-year deal.

Financial terms were not disclosed, but various reports said Zeile agreed to a $1.5 million deal to return to New York.

Zeile, 37, spent last season with the Colorado Rockies and batted .273 with 18 homers and 87 RBI.

"Todd is a proven veteran with strong leadership abilities who has played in New York," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said of the former Met. "He will give Joe Torre a solid righthanded option at third and first base, DH and off the bench."

A baseball source said Saturday that Zeile would also get performance bonuses in the contract.

Zeile replaces Ron Coomer as the Yankees' backup at third base and first base, and might also get time as a right-handed designated hitter. Zeile's playing time could increase if the Yankees deal Nick Johnson to Montreal for one of the Expos' starting pitchers.

Torre is close to Zeile, having managed him in St. Louis. Cashman asked Torre for a report on Zeile and had the manager place a call to his former player earlier this week.

"I asked Joe about it and he thought it would be a terrific idea,'' Cashman said.

Zeile has been a full-time player most of his 14-year career but the Yankees were upfront with him, saying he wouldn't have a starting role.

But Cashman said the 37-year-old Zeile appeared interested in playing on a winning team for Torre. Zeile has a .268 career average with 233 homers and 1,033 RBI.

After coming up as a catcher, Zeile has played most of his career at third base. The Mets, however, used him at first because they had Robin Ventura at third base. Zeile is very close to Ventura, who is with the Yankees now.