There is no way to separate Jed from the Ricketts. They are one and the same. Tom loves the luxury tax because he was one of the main architects of it and he can use it as an artificial ceiling. So that should be the line, but as we've seen, it's not; they may go over, but not for long, and they will be way under more than they ever will be over.
Tom and the sibs believe the best way to build a team is to grow it from the farm. And they don't want to "pay for past accomplishments",
I hate them, and it is what it is, as they say.