Is there a set time on how long a AAA player will play in said league before demanding a promotion/big league contract? 

I dont think that they ever demand to be promoted. I am pretty sure that you can keep a guy in AAA forever as long as they are on the 40 man. If they are not on the 40 man they will eventually retire.

Meet Bob Mecir. Cubs owner josepaco has kept him around in pursuit of his 400th minor league homer. 

I think Bob answers this questions pretty definitively - forever. You can keep a guy on the 40 man roster forever. 

I mean the guys that are in AAA that ask for a 5 year deal for 5.8 mil a year without sniffing the majors.  What criteria do they meet that they feel entitled to ask for such nonsense?

Those are 6-year MiLB free agents. guys who are not on the 40man after there 6th pro year become eligible for free agency. I believe the ridiculous cotract guys is any guy like that with an overall of 60 or better, but I could be wrong.

You are right, an overall of 60+ causes the minor league free agents to expect ML deals.
So if you want to do as little restocking of your minor leagues each season, put as many 5+ year pros with an overall of 60+ on your 40 man roster prior to rollover.

+1 to overeasy

Each season, I look for 5+ year pros and make sure my 40 man is full of 40 men. Then, after rollover, I put those guys through waivers. If I lose one, I can always sign a minor league FA to replace him. If he clears, it's another season of useful contributions. 

Posted by soxfan121 on 7/13/2010 8:59:00 PM (view original):
Meet Bob Mecir. Cubs owner josepaco has kept him around in pursuit of his 400th minor league homer. 

I think Bob answers this questions pretty definitively - forever. You can keep a guy on the 40 man roster forever. 

If it were somehow possible to get that guy nominated, I would vote for him in the Hall of Fame.  That is priceless!

I don't think forever is correct - I am pretty certain there is an age (44 or 45 I think) after which a guy will retire no matter what.

Oh, I'm pretty sure Bob Mecir will retire before he dies. Which at his current rate of decomposition will be sometime late this season. And of course, a guy will eventually retire. 

But functionally, he's been in AAA/AA forever (17 pro seasons, 13 on the 40 man, IIRC) and therefore you can keep him around and in the minors until he retires or dies, whichever comes first. 

Poor guy hurt his back.  Look at the health rating decline!  It's hell to get old!

Posted by soxfan121 on 7/13/2010 8:59:00 PM (view original):
Meet Bob Mecir. Cubs owner josepaco has kept him around in pursuit of his 400th minor league homer. 

I think Bob answers this questions pretty definitively - forever. You can keep a guy on the 40 man roster forever. 

Crash Davis!!

Meet Pablo Polanco.  12 years in AAA with 36 days of ML service time and over 600 Minor League HRs.