J. Upton falls short in Gold Glove voting

SAN DIEGO -- Justin Upton accomplished some very big things in his first, and likely only, season with the Padres. Upton led the team with 26 home runs, he knocked in 81 runs and even stole 19 bases, all while playing above-average defense in left field.

But Upton missed out on what would have been his first Rawlings Gold Glove Award on Tuesday, as Starling Marte of the Pirates won the honors.

Marte finished third in the National League in DRS (defensive runs saved) with 24 and led all NL outfielders with 16 assists.

Upton had eight defensive runs saved and had a career-high nine outfield assists in 146 games. The eight DRS were the most for Upton since he also had eight in 2011 with the D-backs.

Christian Yelich of the Marlins was also a finalist for the Gold Glove in left field. Yelich won the award a year ago.

A week ago, the Padres opted to extend Upton a qualifying offer, which means he can accept a one-year contract for $15.8 million in 2016 or, the likely scenario, turn it down for what figures to be a lucrative, multiyear contract.

Players like Upton who were extended qualifying offers have until 2 p.m. PT on Friday to accept or decline the offer.

The Padres are also awaiting the same decision from right-handed pitcher Ian Kennedy.