Trent Baalke appears to be 49ers' next GM

Former Raiders executive Michael Lombardi said he is not a candidate for the 49ers' general manager job, and that there is only one real candidate at this point.

"In house is a young man named Trent Baalke, who I believe will be the general manager of their team," Lombardi said Wednesday on NFL Network, one day after ESPN reported he interviewed for the job with 49ers president Jed York.

"I think the 49ers have the direction they want to go in."

The NFL Network analyst went on to say the hire could come within 48 hours, even as York continued to set up phone and in-person interviews with more candidates.

In a phone interview, York said he does not want to discuss any candidates until a hire is made.

"We're going to hire the right guy at the right time," York said when asked if Baalke would get the job soon as Lombardi said.

Former Broncos general manager Ted Sundquist is scheduled to come in this week, and Baalke will sit down for a formal interview as well. Former Rams and Panthers executive Tony Softli interviewed for the job Tuesday.

York confirmed an ESPN report that he would reach out to Bill Parcells to discuss Baalke, who got into the NFL as a Jets scout when Parcells was their general manager in 1998.

If the 49ers indeed hire Baalke, it would be the third straight time they hired someone with no general manager experience. Like Scot McCloughan before him, Baalke would be an in-house promotion after time spent in a less powerful personnel role.

McCloughan hired Baalke as a Western region scout in 2005. He was promoted to director of player personnel in 2008, then given many GM-type responsibilities when McCloughan and the 49ers split in March.

Baalke was given the title of vice president of player personnel in May and has, in essence, auditioned for the GM job ever since.

So, why conduct a search if Baalke is going to get the promotion? Per league rules, teams must interview at least one minority candidate for a GM-type position. Softli met that requirement with his interview.

Quarterback change: Alex Smith is back in the starting lineup for Sunday's finale against Arizona after interim coach Jim Tomsula made the team's third quarterback change in three weeks.

The reason?

"Experience," Tomsula said.

Don't ask Tomsula to break the offense down, either.

"I keep my spoon in my soup," the defensive line coach said.

More Alex: Turns out Smith had one more heated exchange with Mike Singletary before the coach was fired Sunday.