NEW YORK – New York Mets general manager Omar Minaya dined with Pedro Martinez in Santo Domingo on Thanksgiving night, according to a report out of the Dominican Republic.

Minaya wouldn’t deny The Associated Press report when reached on Saturday.

“All I can say is I’m not going to comment on what we do, what we’re thinking,” Minaya said. “I would be at a disadvantage if I were to comment.”

As for the primary purpose of his trip, Minaya said: “I came here to spend some time with my family.”

Minaya wants to make a splash this winter. That could be difficult, considering free agents’ lack of enthusiasm for playing for the Mets, and the lack of attractive parts the Mets currently have outside of Jose Reyes and David Wright, neither of whom they figure to trade.

The Mets retained Kris Benson with a three-year, $22.5 million deal and fourth-year team option. But the contract led to a scolding of the club by commissioner Bud Selig’s salary police, according to a source, because it inflated what free-agent pitchers across baseball expect to receive this offseason. Benson also wanted to stay in New York because of his wife’s modeling and acting aspirations.

The Red Sox reportedly have offered Martinez a two-year, $25.5 million contract with a vesting option for 2007 that would kick in if the righthander remains healthy. Boston is prepared to let the 33-year-old Martinez walk rather than extend its offer to three years if a deal hinges on it, according to a source.

Martinez and agent Fern Cuza met with George Steinbrenner on Nov. 16 in Tampa, though the New York-based Yankee faction wasn’t included and the Yankees are not believed to be seriously interested in him.

Alex Rodriguez subsequently dined with Martinez in Miami.

After the initial reports of the Mets’ interest in Martinez surfaced early last week, Cuza said: “I would love to be able to talk about these issues with the press, but I can’t, out of respect for the GMs and all the guys I deal with. If that leaks out from the organization, I can’t control it.”

With Al Leiter’s Mets career seemingly over, the Mets are in the market for a starting pitcher. Minaya recently expressed an interest in piggybacking on Carl Pavano’s visit to the Yankees next weekend.

Pavano’s agent, Scott Shapiro, said the righthander has concentrated on visiting American League teams because of his relative unfamiliarity with those organizations. Pavano already has met with Boston, and will visit Detroit, Baltimore, Seattle and Anaheim.

leading into the winter meetings in the Angels’ backyard.

“It would be great if Omar has some time when we’re around,” Shapiro said. “Obviously we’re the guest of the Yankees. If we have some time, it would be convenient.”