Keith Law, a writer for ESPN.com and the lead baseball analyst for Scouts, Inc., said that if Machado stays at shortstop, "you have a potential All-Star offensively who is no worse than average with the glove". In the middle of his first full MLB season (2013) Fangraphs evaluated Machado as the best third baseman in baseball, by a wide margin. Machado has been compared to New York Yankees third baseman, Alex Rodriguez, whom he considers his mentor. Machado said "it's a great honor" to be compared to Rodriguez, but he doesn't compare himself to anyone. Orioles Hall of Famer Jim Palmer compared Machado to another large-framed shortstop/third baseman: "He reminds me of how I think Cal would have been if he had played third base his entire career."

This Baltimore Orioles Riddell mini helmet has been signed by Machado in black on the brim. This helmet includes an MLB hologram.