It took Bobby Valentine less than 24 hours to elevate the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry to new heights.
Literally.  Read more after the jump.

@Shay_Marie x @gametimegirl

On Friday morning, Brian Cashman challenged the new Red Sox skipper and most famous son of Stamford to rappel down the 22-story Landmark Building in that city one year from now.

“I publicly challenge Bobby Valentine to join me on the building,” Cashman said between his first two of three practice rappels before he will do it for real — dressed as an elf — at Sunday’s “Heights and Lights” celebration. “Landmark Square, first week of December. Be there. 2012.”

Valentine’s response?

“Any time, anywhere. If he wants to challenge me at eating pancakes, he can,” Valentine told the Daily News with a laugh as he sipped an ice-cold bottle of Presidente beer at David Ortiz’s charity dinner in the Dominican Republic on Friday night.

Asked if he would crush Cashman in the competition, Valentine swung for the fences.

“Absolutely. That’s why I took this job,” said Valentine, who was introduced on Thursday as Terry Francona’s successor at Fenway Park. “Just to make it fair, I should rappel up as he rappels down. That’ll be an even race.”

Valentine, who has also been the Stamford public safety director since January, said he won’t be attending the Sunday performance by Cashman, who lives in nearby Darien.

“I’ve seen that act before,” Valentine said with a laugh. “My firemen will be there with the nets just in case something happens, even though there’s a lot of Boston fans who think that we should go without the nets. But I’m still the safety director until we get a new one. I’m watching out for his safety.”

Friendly trash talk aside, Cashman says he believes Valentine’s return to big-league managing will add extra spice and “another chapter” to the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry.

“I know Bobby, and I know he’s fully qualified to handle anything and everything that’s going to come his way up there in Boston,” the Yankee GM said. “I didn’t like seeing Terry Francona in that dugout because Terry was outstanding at what he did.

“At the same time, I don’t like seeing Bobby Valentine in that dugout, either,” Cashman continued. “Because I know what Bobby is, and what he can do and will do. When you hire someone you want them to be all-in. Bobby is all-in on the Red Sox now.”

Despite the September collapse that cost Francona his job, Cashman added that “the Red Sox have a tremendous team” going into 2012 under Valentine and incoming GM Ben Cherington, who has replaced new Cubs president Theo Epstein.

Cashman also jokingly referred Friday to the controversy he sparked last year after Boston added Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford last winter, quipping, “Do you want me to say the Red Sox are the team to beat?”

The Yankees captured the AL East title last season before losing to Detroit in the division series. But they’ve had a relatively quiet offseason other than signing ace CC Sabathia to a contract extension and agreeing to terms on a one-year return with starter Freddy Garcia.

Cashman has maintained an interest in upgrading the Yanks’ staff this winter, but he reiterated the price tag in dollars (free agency) or in prospects (on the trade market) has been prohibitive.

“We’re making the calls, talking to agents, talking trades with clubs, but for the most part nothing has transpired yet,” said Cashman, who will leave Monday for the winter meetings in Dallas. “We’re ready to move on something if it makes sense … Right now, if you’re asking me do I expect to do something in the next week? No. But I’ve had enough conversations that I could end up doing something.

“If something makes sense, we’re ready to rock and roll. If it doesn’t make sense, we’ll look at what we have and appreciate what we have and be ready to go with what we have.”

NYDN