Given that Jesus Montero reported to camp 40 pounds overweight two seasons ago, I never thought I’d say this, but it’s time to give Montero a chance.

The Mariners signed left-handed hitter Adam Lind this offseason to be one part of a lefty-righty platoon at first base. (Kudos to a smart signing by Jerry Dipoto.)

The question coming up in spring training is who will be the right-handed bat in that platoon?

The answer should be Montero.

When the team gave up Michael Pineda for Montero, it was lauded as a win-win deal for each team.

The Yankees needed a young pitcher with ace potential, and the Mariners needed to find an answer in the middle of the lineup.

After one season, the Mariners looked like the clear-cut winner of the deal.

Montero hit .260 with 15 home runs and 62 RBIs in 2012, while Pineda was sidelined with an injury and didn’t pitch all season.

The next season, Pineda failed to make an appearance again, but Montero’s struggles behind the plate carried over into his at-bats. He spent the better part of the rest of the season in Triple-A and was then suspended for 50 games after being named in a report of players who took performance-enhancing drugs.

The next season was Montero’s infamous overweight campaign, which ostracized him within the organization. The year culminated with a Mariners scout sending an ice cream sandwich down from the stands, which fueled Montero to attempt to climb into the stands and attack the scout.

Despite all of this, Montero stayed with the Seattle organization. He could’ve asked to be released or traded, but he instead showed up to camp last season in the best shape of his life.

The problem for Montero was that there was nowhere for him to play on a team that thought they already had an answer at first base and were looking to make a run at a World Series.

Montero will be eligible for arbitration after this season, so why not give him a chance? What’s the worst that can happen? He has a bad couple months and gets an easy out.

I’ll get on board with ESPN’s Jim Moore. Give Montero a real chance. Let him sink or swim.