49ers promote Trent Baalke as new general manager

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) - Trent Baalke has been promoted to general manager of the San Francisco 49ers.

Baalke was named the team's new GM on Tuesday night, taking on more responsibility from his most recent post as vice president of player personnel. Now with Baalke in place, the Niners are in position to make a serious run at Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh.

Harbaugh, with plenty of suitors coming his way, returned to the Bay Area earlier Tuesday evening from a 40-12 Orange Bowl victory over Virginia Tech in Miami. The Cardinal finished at 12-1.

Baalke had interviewed extensively on Saturday with team president Jed York, who has said he would let the general manager pick the team's next coach.