Reheating a few FanFest leftovers

The Winter Meetings are over. FanFest is over. I'm just sitting here crossing items off my list.

The biggest news to come out of the Convention Center involved first baseman Chris Davis. He didn't emerge from behind a curtain, arms raised in the air, dollar bills stuffed in his pockets. Executive vice president Dan Duquette stated quite clearly that the Orioles' offer no longer was on the table.

I'll stress again that the door isn't closed, but the club's frustration is showing and any suggestion that the Orioles are bluffing is bogus. I know for a fact that people in the organization questioned why the offer wasn't pulled much sooner, but managing partner Peter Angelos really wanted to get this deal done.

Angelos met face to face with agent Scott Boras. As I reported, they also spoke over the phone at the Winter Meetings - a conversation that lasted at least 30 minutes. But the Orioles' heels are dug in deep and their patience is worn thinner than paper. So thin that it has only one side.

Davis won't accept their offer, so they'll disperse it and find that left-handed bat and starting pitcher. Davis won't accept their offer, so they'll let somebody else play first base and not look back.

One side.

Hearing from Duquette and manager Buck Showalter yesterday, we figured out that the Orioles' pursuit of a left-handed bat is pointing them toward the outfield. They're fine with letting Mark Trumbo play first base while also considering Christian Walker and Trey Mancini. And Steve Pearce's name came up multiple times after we hadn't heard a peep about him.

Pearce still profiles as a January signing, but he's got a few teams interested in him and there's no guarantee that he's going to remain on the market. Even so, just the fact that the Orioles are talking about him again is noteworthy.

A left-handed hitting outfielder. Someone who can get on base. Someone who's a plus-defender and a positive influence. Yes, Alex Gordon continues to make perfect sense.

Pedro Alvarez remains in the picture, too, as long as we're talking about left-handed hitters who aren't Davis.

Jimmy Paredes is trying to stay in the Orioles' plans after slumping badly in the second half and struggling in the field. He told the media yesterday that he's been playing right field every day in winter ball.

"I feel good. Comfortable," he said.

Paredes, 27, is out of options and will be challenged to make the club if the Orioles sign Alvarez or another left-handed bat to serve as designated hitter. He'll need to show massive improvement with the glove, and the Orioles want it to happen in the outfield.

"I need to work hard there in that position and I think I'll be good there. I'll do my job," Paredes said.

"I'm a young guy. I want to be in the field. That's my thing, work hard to show them I can play in the field and then do the best that I can."

Paredes hit .299/.332/.475 with 10 home runs and 39 RBIs in the first half and .216/.252/.265 with no home runs and three RBIs after the break.

"The pitchers made a little adjustment and it was hard to figure out and to get it back," Paredes said. "You can't ever put your head down. It can happen in this game and you've got to be ready for that."

Positive health news also came out of the Convention Center. Dylan Bundy said he's been working out and will start throwing within the week. Shortstop J.J. Hardy said his left shoulder and back feel great.

Bundy pitched twice in the Arizona Fall League before being shut down with tightness in his right forearm.

"I don't think it was anything," Bundy said. "It was just a precautionary thing where they shut me down. Maybe it was just starting to throw again. When you're starting to throw again, you're going to get sore in certain places. You've just got to get used to it. I just was kind of cautious about it and I told the trainers and they took care of it.

"Feel great. Arm is healthy, so I'm really excited going into 2016 spring training. I'm just going to get in shape. I just started my workout and I'll start throwing here next week and get in shape the best way I can and go into spring training healthy and compete for a spot."

Bundy, 23, worked only two innings in the AFL before being scratched from a start and shut down.

"I felt great in that first inning the first start in the AFL and then the second outing I felt it and was just like, 'Come on. Give me a break,' " Bundy said.

"All I want to do is pitch and you can't really work do a whole lot of stuff if you're not out there pitching. I'm just excited I'm healthy right now and I want to go into spring training healthy and compete for a spot and help the team win."

Bundy, the fourth overall pick in the 2011 draft, is out of minor league options after signing a major league deal. He knows how it works.

"Yeah, I know all the options stuff and I'm supposed to make the team and all that, but I'm going to go into camp just like I have the past four years, trying to make the roster," Bundy said. "If I don't make it, hopefully I'll find a spot (elsewhere), but I want to make the team with the Orioles and make the team win."

Bundy made his major league debut in 2012, pitching twice out of the bullpen. Does it feel like a long time since those games, his career slowed by Tommy John surgery and a sore right shoulder this year that ended his season at Double-A Bowie in May?

"It feels like 3 1/2 , four years, but it really feels longer," Bundy said. "You can't really help injuries. The only thing you've got to do is stay confident and hopefully you'll be fine in the long run.

"It's just like hunting for me. You've got to stay patient and just wait for the opportunity. But now the main thing is getting healthy."