TAMPA – Add a dented Mercedes to the list of Derek Jeter’s spring training problems.

When Jeter was leaving the players’ parking lot at Legends Field Sunday, Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez’ truck backed into Jeter’s V-12 silver convertible and was damaged.

“I am having a bad spring,” said Jeter, who has played in just five games due to a strained right shoulder and tight right quadriceps. “It was his fault.”

When Jeter arrived at the trainer’s room yesterday to get treatment on his leg, he slipped a neck brace on trying to play a joke on El Duque, who was due in for work on his cranky right elbow.

“Then (GM, Brian) Cashman walks in,” Jeter said.

Jeter’s intended joke frightened Cashman.

“It scared me, he had this thing up around his neck,” Cashman said. “I said, ‘Oh my God.'”