The St. Louis Cardinals are expected to increase their payroll in the coming years, according to chairman Bill DeWitt.

"We have forecasted increases over the next three to five years that will accommodate what we need to do with the young players we have," DeWitt told The Post-Dispatch.

"We knew as younger players matured at the major-league level they would get to arbitration and into free agency. We wouldn't be able to retain them at the current payroll level, so we're forecasting fairly significant increases in the next three to five years."

The Cardinals finished the 2014 season with a payroll around $115 million, and even though it grew with additions of pitchers John Lackey and Justin Masterson at midseason.