The 49ers explored trading up to select LSU wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. in the 2014 draft, but passed because the price tag was too high.

General manager Trent Baalke said today on 95.7 FM The Game the 49ers would have had to surrender their first-round pick, second-round pick a third-rounder and, possibly, another selection to move from the No. 30 spot to grab Beckham, who was selected by the Giants at No. 12.

Beckham just finished a jaw-dropping rookie season. In 12 games, he had 91 catches for 1,305 yards and 12 touchdowns. Before he had six catches for 93 yards in his sixth career game against the 49ers in November, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was already terming Beckham a “great receiver.”

“He’s a heck of talent,” Baalke said. “He was graded as a heck of a talent by our scouts, by our coaches, by all parties. But what it would have taken to make that move would have cost us our first-, our second- and one of our third-round picks and maybe something on top of that.

“So, in essence, you would have been giving up (cornerback) Jimmie Ward, you would have been giving up (center) Marcus Martin or (linebacker) Chris Borland and you would have given up (running back) Carlos Hyde, plus somebody else. So you would have given up three young quality players to get one. And that was decision that collectively we weren’t willing to make.”

It would have been a steep price, but it also would have enlivened an offense that ranked 20th in the NFL and was starved for a deep threat. Beckham’s six catches of 40-plus yards in 12 games was one more than the 49ers had in 2014.

A Beckham selection would have also bolstered Baalke’s spotty recent resume when it comes to using high-end picks on offense. Since 2012, he’s drafted four offensive players with a first- or second-round pick: wide receiver A.J. Jenkins, running back LaMichael James, tight end Vance McDonald and Hyde.

The 49ers will need to address the wide receiver position in the 2015 draft and, with that in mind, there is a benefit to their 8-8 season. They have the No. 15 overall pick and are in better position to pounce if a dynamic wideout is available.

In fact, if one early mock draft is accurate, they can stay put and get their Beckham. CBS’s Rob Rang has the 49ers selecting Oklahoma wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham with their first pick.

Twitter: @Eric_Branch