The 49ers are close to signing free agent center Bart Oates but apparently will lose fullback Tom Rathman to the Los Angeles Raiders.
Oates has told the 49ers he wants to come to San Francisco, though he has an offer from the New York Giants, for whom he has played 10 years, following three years in the USFL at the start of his career.Because of the limitations caused by the salary cap, the 49ers can offer Oates only about $400,000 in salary, so they have been trying to work a way to get him more money through a signing bonus and incentives.
Oates is expected to make his decision Wednesday.
If Oates comes to the 49ers, he would play center and Jesse Sapolu would move to guard, a position he played earlier in his career, before Randy Cross retired. Sapolu would replace Guy McIntyre, who turned down an offer from the 49ers last December and has not negotiated with them since. Harry Boatswain had been projected as McIntyre's replacement, but his playing experience has been primarily at tackle.
To get back under the cap so they can sign their draft choices, if they sign Oates, the 49ers would have to release one of their offensive linemen, most likely Brian Bollinger, a third-round draft pick in 1992.
Oates would be the fourth free agent the 49ers have signed in the off-season but the first offensive player. They have previously signed linebackers Ken Norton and Gary Plummer and defensive end Richard Dent.
Rathman has reportedly been offered a two-year contract for a total of $1.2 million, including signing bonus, by the Raiders. He had been offered a contract by the 49ers, but it was for substantially less money.
Rathman has also been promised a starting job with the Raiders. With the 49ers, he would have to battle veteran Marc Logan and rookie William Floyd.
Decisions on both Oates and Rathman have to be made quickly because training camp opens in Rocklin July 21. Though they have not signed their draft choices, the 49ers have been talking to the players' agents since the draft and they expect to be able to negotiate contracts with their rookies this week.