In 2018, an impending free agent, Machado was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers and helped the team reach the World Series.

[3][4] Machado grew up in Hialeah alongside former Cincinnati Reds outfielder Albert Almora, and while they are not related by blood they consider each other to be cousins.

While his agent Scott Boras was negotiating his contract, Machado spent the summer of 2010 playing for USA Baseball's 18-and-under national team.

[24] At the end of May, Machado led the major leagues with 25 doubles and was tied for the MLB lead in hits (79) with reigning AL MVP Miguel Cabrera.

[28] On October 29, Machado won the Gold Glove Award at third base, the first by an Oriole third baseman since Brooks Robinson's 16-year run from 1960 to 1975.

On April 29, 2014, he was removed from the disabled list[30] after knee surgery recovery and on May 1, he was greeted by a standing ovation from the hometown Baltimore fans prior to the first game of a doubleheader sweep against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

[citation needed] On June 6, 2014,[31] Machado was running to third base on a ground ball when he was tagged by Oakland Athletics third baseman Josh Donaldson.

In the 8th inning, Machado threw his bat in the direction of third base in response to two consecutive inside pitches thrown by Oakland reliever Fernando Abad.

Although originally describing it as a sprain, ten days later the Orioles announced that the injury required surgery and that Machado was out for the season.

[37] Machado hit two home runs and stole two bases against the Toronto Blue Jays on October 1, becoming only the 16th player—and first Oriole—to have a multi-homer, multi-steal game since 1901.

[42] He finished fourth in the American League in MVP voting and won his second career Rawlings Gold Glove for his outstanding defensive play at third.

[23] Machado set a new career-high for RBIs on May 8 against the A's, when he hit two home runs (including his second grand slam of the year) while driving in six in an 11–3 victory.

He was the second player in MLB history to hit a home run in each of the first three innings of a game in a 10–2 victory over the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field on August 7.

[47] The feat was previously accomplished by the White Sox's Carl Reynolds in a 15–4 win which was the nightcap of a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium on July 2, 1930.

[49] Machado was also the ninth player to homer in three consecutive innings at any point during a match and the first Oriole to hit three in a game since Chris Davis in a 9–2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on May 20, 2014.

He recorded career highs in runs scored, strikeouts, batting average, slugging percentage, OPS, and total bases.

On April 28, 2017, Machado hit a home run off CC Sabathia that bounced off the facade of the deck above Monument Park in straightaway center field, measuring 470 feet.

[53] Nevertheless, two days later, Red Sox pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez appeared to intentionally throw at Machado's knees, missing each time.

[42] He was also a finalist for the Rawlings Gold Glove award, losing out to fellow AL East third baseman Evan Longoria.

[58] On July 18, 2018, Machado was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers for Yusniel Diaz, Dean Kremer, Rylan Bannon, Breyvic Valera and Zach Pop.

[63] Machado was fined an undisclosed amount for the way he ran into first base in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series against the Brewers.

The action prompted the benches to clear,[64] and the Brewers' fan base held onto an animosity toward Machado for years to follow.

[66] In his first year in San Diego, Machado hit .256/.334/.462 with 32 home runs and 85 RBIs and led the majors with 24 double plays grounded into.

[citation needed] In Machado's second year with the Padres, which was shortened to 60 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he hit .304/.370/.580 while finishing third in the National League with 16 home runs and 47 RBIs.

Following the season on October 3, Machado underwent right elbow extensor tendon repair surgery, a procedure that comes with a recovery time of 4–6 months.

[74] On September 10, 2024, he became the new Padres' career home run leader with 164 after homering off George Kirby of the Seattle Mariners to break Nate Colbert's record.

[77][3] Machado played for the Dominican Republic in the 2017 World Baseball Classic,[78] where he was nicknamed "El Ministro de la Defensa" for his defense.

Keith Law, a writer for ESPN.com and the lead baseball analyst for Scouts, Inc., said in 2010 that if Machado stayed at shortstop, "you have a potential All-Star offensively who is no worse than average with the glove".

[81] Orioles Hall of Famer Jim Palmer compared Machado to another large-framed shortstop/third baseman: "He reminds me of how I think Cal (Ripken) would have been if he had played third base his entire career.

[90] Machado is part of the ownership group for San Diego FC, an expansion team in Major League Soccer that was announced in 2023 and plans to begin play in 2025.