BALTIMORE (AP) – Todd Zeile was released by the New York Yankees on Sunday, a move that came as no surprise to the veteran third baseman.

Zeile, signed as a free agent in December, hit .210 with six homers and 28 RBIs in 66 games with New York. But he never could establish himself as an everyday starter, and the 37-year old became expendable after the July 31 acquisition of third baseman Aaron Boone.

“It’s not a complete surprise,” said Zeile, who was told of the move before the Yankees’ game against the Baltimore Orioles. “I understand to some degree.”

The Yankees called up right-hander Jorge De Paula from Triple-A Columbus to fill Zeile’s roster spot.

Zeile appeared in only one of the Yankees’ last 13 games before his release. He went 1-for-2 on Tuesday before being pulled for a pinch hitter in the eighth inning of a 6-0 win over Kansas City.

Before Boone arrived in a trade with the Cincinnati Reds, Zeile shared time at third base with Robin Ventura. The arrival of Boone also ended Ventura’s stint with the Yankees; he was dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers on the same day.

Zeile was 0-for-10 as a pinch hitter and never quite got used to being used so sparingly.

During his short stay with the Yankees, Zeile hit his 238th homer, surpassing Gus Zernial for the most career home runs by a player whose name begins with the letter Z.

He has now homered for a major-league record 10 teams.

De Paula appeared in 25 games with Columbus, all of them starts. He was 9-10 with a 4.09 ERA, striking out 121 and walking 51 in 156 1-3 innings.

The 24-year-old has never appeared in the majors.

, will work out of the bullpen with New York.

AP-ES-08-17-03 1433EDT