"Each draft day names are linked forever.

The Seattle Mariners passed on local right-hander Tim Lincecum to select right-hander Brandon Morrow in 2006.

The Blue Jays decided Troy Tulowitzki was the best player available but chose Ricky Romero in 2005 since they thought they had Russ Adams as future shortstop.

And James Paxton, the Jays pick who got away, connects with right-hander Drew Hutchison.

Paxton was the Jays second pick, 37th overall, in 2009.

When the Jays could not agree on a deal with Paxton's agent, Scott Boras, Paxton returned to the University of Kentucky. Now a fast riser in the Seattle Mariners system, Paxton may be a September call-up.

The Jays didn't put Paxton's allotted bonus money into their pockets or open up an RRSP.

They went over slot to sign Hutchison, a 15th-rounder, for $400,000, who in the off season doubles as the best Christmas-tree salesman in Lakeland, Fla.

Hutchison, 21, is on his own fast track, starting 2011 at class-A Lansing, then being promoted to class-A Dunedin and finishing at double-A New Hampshire. He went a combined 14-5 with a 2.43 ERA in 27 starts.

He's one of seven Jays minor leaguers in town until Tuesday for a mini camp to enable them to learn about expectations of a major-league life.

The others are outfielders Anthony Gose, 21 and Moises Sierra, 23, former No. 1 pick right-hander Chad Jenkins, 24, first baseman Mike McDade, 22, reliever Evan Crawford, 25, and infielder Jon Diaz, 26. "