BOSTON (AP) – Red Sox principal owner John Henry and CEO Larry Lucchino plan to meet with free agent pitcher Pedro Martinez in the Dominican Republic on Wednesday as they try to keep the pitcher from defecting from the World Series champions.

The two say they will visit with the 33-year-old right-hander during a trip to attend the one-year anniversary of the opening of the Red Sox baseball academy outside Santo Domingo.

“Certainly we hope to see and meet with Pedro,” Henry wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press on Monday night.

Lucchino stressed in an e-mail that the meeting was intended to be social.

“During our visit, we will meet with both Pedro and (designated hitter) David Ortiz. They are not intended to be business meetings,” he said.

Martinez, who became a free agent after the season, met with New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner last month and has received offers from the Red Sox and New York Mets.

Fernando Cuza, Martinez’s agent, did not immediately return messages Monday.

AP-ES-12-06-04 2313EST