Not even the first competitive pitch of spring training has been thrown, and the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees are already trading insults through their front offices.

After all, it wouldn't be spring training without Red Sox president Larry Lucchino taking a shot at the team's AL East rival.

Or without the Yankees firing back.

When it comes to a financial approach, Red Sox president Larry Lucchino said his team and the New York Yankees are "very different animals and I'm proud of that difference." Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe/Getty Images

Lucchino didn't drop an "Evil Empire" reference on Friday, but he did discuss what he sees are increasingly divergent paths between the two teams.

"We're very different animals and I'm proud of that difference," Lucchino said. "I always cringe when people lump us together with other baseball teams.

"[The Yankees] are still, this year at least, relying heavily on their inimitable old-fashioned Yankee style of high-priced, long-term free agents. I can't say I wish them well, but I think we have taken a different approach."

As expected, Yankees president Randy Levine didn't take too long to respond.

"I feel bad for Larry," Levine said. "He constantly sees ghosts and is spooked by the Yankees. But I can understand why. Two years ago, under his and Bobby Valentine's plan, the Red Sox were a last-place team.

"Ben Cherington and the Red Sox did a great job in winning the World Series last year, but I'm confident that (Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, manager Joe Girardi) and our players are ready to compete with a great Red Sox team to a win a world championship."

While the Red Sox have spent less on free agents the last two years, the Yankees continue to open the safe and hand out big-time contracts.